Washington, D.C., 12 February 2018 - The Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA) is deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to humanitarian aid and refugee services in the Budget Request announced by the Trump Administration today. It is important to continue to inform the Administration that it is not a representation that we all share, and that this budget is a departure from funding that is essential to saving lives, and building a better world not just for refugees, but for us all.

Global: Year-end letter from JRS International DirectorRome, 27 December 2017 – The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. Mahatma Gandhi would not give our society high marks for its treatment of forcibly displaced people this year. But in the midst of xenophobia and closing borders, there is hope. Read More >>>

JRS/USA Responds to U.S. Retreat from Global Compact on Migration

Washington, D.C., 3 December 2017 - On Saturday, December 2, 2017, the Trump Administration announced it would no longer participate in the Global Compact on Migration – a critical process for safe, orderly, and regular migration around the world. JRS/USA is saddened and disppointed at this announcement and encourages the Administration to consider Pope Francis's call for cooperation.

Integrating Urban Refugees in Ethiopia Washington, D.C., 2 November 2017— The traditional image of refugees crammed under large tents or a makeshift structure no longer gives the full indication of today’s refugee crisis. The extremely poor living conditions of camps and dependency on humanitarian aid frustrates most refugees. This causes many to assume that this forces them to seek better lives in urban environments - this is not true. Urban refugees often have greater needs than camp-based refugees, as they do not have the services provided in the camp. They must pay for shelter, education, health care, and food. They are often not legally allowed to work and do not speak the language, which makes it difficult to survive.Read More >>>

Bangladesh: Responding to the plight of the Rohingya (Dhaka) October 30, 2017 – The JRS Deputy International Director, Fr Joseph Xavier SJ, is currently evaluating opportunities to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, where over 500,000 people have fled violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar since August 2017.Read More >>>

Greece: Asylum seekers in abysmal conditions on islands(Athens) October 27, 2017 – Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras should end the Greek government’s “containment policy” of confining asylum seekers to the Aegean islands, 19 human rights and humanitarian aid organisations said in an open letter released 23 October.Read More >>>

JRS October Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill(Washington, D.C.) October 20, 2017 — On Tuesday, October 17 the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and a group of 35 advocates from several partner organizations gathered to advocate on Capitol Hill, meeting with 27 offices representing eight U.S. states, Baltimore, and the District of Columbia. These meetings included key appropriations and foreign policy decision-makers who needed to hear from voters about the importance of U.S. leadership on refugee issues. Read More >>>

This year’s report focuses on the work of JRS’s mission to help those we serve to heal, to have the opportunity to learn, and ultimately to thrive. As stated by David “Rob” Robinson, JRS/USA Executive Director, “JRS doesn’t just give out food or just provide shelter, we walk side-by-side with refugees and provide counseling services, living with them and coming to understand and address their needs.” This was expressed in several unique programs and events throughout 2016.

Chad: Darfuri students excel after curriculum transitionN'Djamena, 29 September 2017 – More than a decade after the initial onset of conflict in their homeland, Darfuri refugees remain in twelve refugee camps throughout Iriba and Guereda, near the Chadian border with Sudan. In these twelve settlements, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) runs its largest education project worldwide.Read More >>>

On the First Anniversary of Historic Refugee Summit, Governments and Donors Must Continue to Commit to Refugee EducationOn the first anniversary of the UN Summit for Refugees & Migrants and Leaders’ Summit on Refugees, JRS/USA, along with our coalition of partners through the Global Campaign for Education, calls on government and private sector leaders to continue to commit to investing in refugee education.Read More >>>

JRS/USA Receives the Anne Frank AwardThe Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands recognized JRS/USA with the Anne Frank Award. The award is given to an American person or organization who has demonstrated a body of work which confronts intolerance, anti-Semitism, racism or discrimination, while upholding freedom and equal rights.Read More >>>

Global: Pope's message for the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2018 Vatican City, 22 August 2017 - Pope Francis' message for the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees was released by the Vatican yesterday. Read More >>>

Happy Feast of Saint Ignatius From JRS/USAJuly 31st marks the feast of Saint Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits. In celebration, we are reminded of St. Ignatius's call to radically change the world around us and place ourself in service to others. Read More >>>

Shoulder to Shoulder with RefugeesThe Uganda Solidarity Summit was convened on 22-23 June 2017 at the initiative of Uganda's president Yoweri K. Museveni and the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi, to discuss about how to support Uganda respond humanely and in sustainable way to one of the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.Read More >>>

Iraq: Focusing on the forgotten refugee Dohuk, 10 July 2017 - JRS was already present in Iraq in the Erbil area since 2014, and decided to expand its intervention to the north, in the Duhok province, last year where the needs were great. Read More >>>

JRS/USA Responds to Supreme Court Action on Travel Ban (UPDATED)JRS/USA continues to oppose a ban on refugees and calls for the administration to interpret the court's decision with compassionRead More >>>

JRS Stands Up for RefugeesJesuit Refugee Service and 19 other global organizations have signed on to a letter calling on governments to stand in solidarity with refugees as one human family. Celebrating the positive contributions refugees make in our communities, we should welcome them instead of succumbing to the walls of fear and prejudice. Read More >>>

A Father's PersistenceOne fathers story of struggle as a refugee and how his persistence, dedication, and a JRS education helped him through it. Read More >>>

Education opens the worldRome, 14 June 2017 - Jesuit Refugee Service and Entreculturas are launching “Education opens the world,” a campaign advocating for educational access for refugees and displaced people around the world, a fundamental right they are too often deprived of because of their displacement.Read More >>>

Transforming Lives of Refugee Children in Cameroon JRS projects in Cameroon bring education and stability to refugee families fleeing from violence in CAR.Read More >>>

A Worthy Investment: Access to Education for Sudanese Refugees in ChadJRS/USA releases report on access to quality education for Sudanese refugees in Chad, current efforts by JRS to address this need, and policy recommendations to improve conditions further.Read More >>>

High Schools and Universities use “Walk A Mile in My Shoes” to teach students how refugees live

We Must Uphold the American Values of Opportunity and WelcomeUpdated March 16, 2017.
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is greatly disappointed by the Trump Administration's issuance of a revised Executive Order banning the entry of travelers from six Muslim majority countries into the United States for ninety days, suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program for 120 days, and slashing the number of planned refugee admissions by more than half. Read More >>>

Meet JRS Chad’s Country Director, Alberto Martin Huertas2017 is a huge challenge for JRS Chad, we are expanding our activities in primary education to five more refugee camps in Farchana and Oure Cassoni. At the same time, this year is going to be our first experience implementing a Child Protection program. It is a big challenge, with a lot of work to do, but we are very passionate and it shows the confidence that our donors have in us.Read More >>>

News archive

February, 2017

Muslims and Christians unite to call for bridges not walls (Rome) February 7, 2017 — As we celebrate the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, the Italian Islamic Religious Community and Jesuit Refugee Service take President Trump's Executive Order on immigration and refugees as an affront to our common Muslim and Christian values, and a repudiation of our shared humanity.Read More >>>

February, 2017

Catholic leaders condemn Executive Order on Refugees(Washington, D.C.) February 1, 2017 — Yesterday the Board of Directors of the Catholic Theological Society of America released a statement urging President’s Trump’s Executive Order on Refugees and Migration to be withdrawn, as it is morally unjust and religiously dangerous. The order “conflicts starkly with the religious and ethical values held in the Roman Catholic tradition.”Read More >>>

TAKE ACTION to oppose harmful Executive Orders(Washington, D.C.) January 30, 2017 — Last week, President Trump issued a series of Executive Orders which pose significant threats to immigrants and refugees both currently in the U.S. and those planning to arrive in our country seeking safety and security. The Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and Jesuit Refugee Service/USA have issued statements denouncing these Executive Orders and we ask you to take action as well.Read More >>>

January, 2017

Barring refugees is an affront to American values(Washington, D.C.) January 27, 2017 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA expresses its deep opposition to provisions in today’s Executive Order suspending the U.S. Refugee Resettlement program for 120 days and indefinitely suspending the admission of refugees from war torn Syria. These actions fly in the face of Catholic and American values and do a disservice to our long history of welcoming the stranger.Read More >>>

January, 2017

Jesuit Refugee Service, Interfaith Coalition Oppose Plans to Halt Refugee Resettlement(Washington, D.C.) January 25, 2017 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA strongly opposes the reported plans of the Trump administration to halt the resettlement of refugees to the United States, to reduce the number of refugees admitted annually, and to ban resettlement of certain nationalities. Please join us in sending a message to the President that you support our tradition of providing life-saving refuge to vulnerable displaced people, in accordance with our cherished American values.Read More >>>

January, 2017

READ Act helps ensure global access to quality education(Washington, D.C.) January 25, 2017 — As the world watches a new Congress and Administration assume power in the United States, the U.S. House of Representatives took an important step forward in prioritizing global access to education. The READ Act would ensure the U.S. has a comprehensive strategy to improve global educational opportunities for vulnerable children.Read More >>>

January, 2017

An Open Letter to President Trump(Washington, D.C.) January 20, 2017 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Interim Executive Director Fr. Leo J. O’Donovan S.J. notes that welcoming refugees and migrants “reflects our desire to respond to the call of the Jewish and Christian scriptures to welcome strangers among us, especially those in danger or great need.” Read More >>>

January, 2017

Young refugees represent hope for a peaceful future (Rome) January 17, 2017 - On the occasion of the 2017 World Day of Migrants and Refugees Sunday, many refugees, volunteers and friends of Jesuit Refugee Service Italy — Centro Astalli — met Jesuit Father Arturo Sosa, newly elected Superior General of the Society of Jesus.Read More >>>

End of year message from the International Director (Rome) December 30, 2016 – The past year has been memorable for shadows and lights. One shadow hovering over our world is the reality of 65 million refugees and displaced people – the highest number in our history. We are all acutely aware of places like Aleppo and Athens. Yet JRS also works where those on the move in places off the radar.Read More >>>

Syria: Laila, art is in her heart(Beirut) December 22, 2016 – Al-Zabadani is a beautiful and popular hill town in southwestern Syria not far from the Lebanon border. But for almost five years it has been a battleground between rebels and the Syrian Army. As this picturesque town now stands ravaged, several of its inhabitants are seeking refuge in safer zones in Syria or in another country.Read More >>>

December, 2016

Syria: JRS serves displaced in Aleppo(Beirut) December 19, 2016 — The situation in Aleppo continues to be a cause of great concern. The hostilities continue without ceasing. People continue to flee eastern Aleppo in large numbers. Ground reports inform us that internally displaced people — primarily women and children — flee with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing and with only a few essentials.Read More >>>

Joint statement: EU leaders can save lives this winter(Brussels) December 15, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service and other humanitarian organizations in Europe are gravely concerned that European policies are trying more and more to push people out of Europe, making it even harder to seek asylum, and leaving it to Member States of first entry, like Greece, to shoulder all the responsibility.Read More >>>

Help ensure access to education for refugee children(Washington, D.C.) December 5, 2016 — With only days to go before Congress concludes its current session, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote on the Education for All Act tomorrow. Approved by the House of Representatives in July, this is one of the final steps needed before this legislation can be signed into law. Please contact your Senator to urge passage of this bill today.Read More >>>

December, 2016

NGOs urge action on global education(Washington, D.C.) December 1, 2016 — The Global Campaign for Education-US is highlighting the critical role that education plays in U.S. foreign policy efforts. Members of the international development, humanitarian and education communities make the case for the power of education and encourage its inclusion in the incoming administration’s and Congressional global development priorities.Read More >>>

November, 2016

‘Shall we take our refugees off their crosses?’(Washington, D.C.) November 29, 2016 – As you can imagine, for a small organization like JRS, the speed with which the global refugee population has grown has pushed us to focus on how we can best serve. We looked closely at the needs of the refugee population and considered what type of assistance we might be uniquely suited to provide.Read More >>>

November, 2016

Supporting justice against conflict minerals (Brussels) November 28, 2016 — The European Union last week took a positive, but half-hearted, step towards cleaning up Europe's trade in minerals. EU legislators concluded their negotiations on a new law on so-called 'conflict minerals'—a Regulation which is meant to ensure that minerals entering the EU do not finance conflict or human rights violations. Read More >>>

November, 2016

JRS leader to receive CRISPAZ Peace Award(San Salvador) November 27, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service International Director Fr. Thomas Smolich, S.J., will be honored by Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ) with the CRISPAZ Peace Award on Wednesday, November 30, at an evening reception at Santa Clara University's De Saisset Museum in Santa Clara, Calif. Read More >>>

November, 2016

The commitment continues: Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and the election(Washington, D.C.) November 16, 2016 — It has been just over a week since the divisive presidential campaign came to its surprising conclusion. We have taken this time to consider soberly the implications of the upcoming change of administration, and its possible effect on the refugees and forced migrants which Jesuit Refugee Service/USA seeks to serve. Read More >>>

November, 2016

Wider protection for migrant and refugee children(Rome) November 17, 2016 – On the occasion of Universal Children's Day this Sunday, we echo Pope Francis’ appeal “to adopt every possible measure to guarantee the protection and safety of child migrants.” In this time of epic human displacement, “children constitute the most vulnerable group, because as they face the life ahead of them, they are invisible and voiceless.”Read More >>>

Who is my neighbor?(Kings Cross, NSW) November 10, 2016 — “Are you on the side of the life that lives in Jesus, the life of grace and truth, of unstinting generosity and unsparing honesty, the only life that gives life to others? Or are you on your own side, on the side of disconnection, rivalry, the hoarding of gifts, the obsession with control?”Read More >>>

New York City students hit the road to help refugees(Queens, N.Y.) Nov. 1, 2016 – When Pope Francis declared that 2016 would be a “Year of Mercy,” asking the world to reach out and help the vulnerable, a group of students in Queens, N.Y., took heart. They embarked on a four-mile charity walk to raise money for refugees.Read More >>>

Greece-Portugal: Helping Refugees to Relocate(Lisbon) October 26, 2016 – Jesuit Refugee Service Portugal, in coordination with Refugee Support Platform, a Portuguese coalition of host organizations, are spearheading a project with JRS Greece to help support, inform and accompany asylum seekers who are eligible for relocation from Greece to Portugal.Read More >>>

An Open Letter to the Next President of the United States (Washington, D.C.) October 20, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Interim Executive Director Fr. Leo J. O’Donovan S.J. joined 50 other humanitarian leaders in sending an open letter to the next President. InterAction, an alliance organization of NGOs with more than 180 members including JRS/USA, organized the letter after members expressed concern about the current political climate.Read More >>>

Why resettlement is not the solution to the refugee crisis(Kings Cross, NSW) October 12, 2016 — Every minute of every day in 2015, around 24 people were displaced from their homes. That amounted to 34,000 people per day, worldwide, who were forced to seek refuge elsewhere. These large numbers of newly displaced persons further swelled the 16.1 million refugees in the world who, according to the UN Agency for Refugees, were already displaced.Read More >>>

Robert Plant joins Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees(Washington, D.C.) September 28, 1016 — Robert Plant has confirmed that he will join Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, The Milk Carton Kids, and other special guests for select dates on the Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees tour in October. Funds raised during the tour will support the Jesuit Refugee Service Global Education Initiative.Read More >>>

September, 2016

Jesuits to Hold Worldwide Meeting, Elect New Leader(Rome) September 27, 2016 — The Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the largest order of priests and brothers in the Roman Catholic Church, will hold the first plenary session of General Congregation 36 in Rome on October 3. The supreme governing body of the Jesuit order, a General Congregation has only happened 35 times since the Society was founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola.Read More >>>

Displaced Iraqi children ask U.S. lawmakers for help (Washington, D.C.) September 19, 2016 – Omar, an articulate, polite and outwardly jovial 15-year-old from near Mosul, Iraq, is a typical teenager in many ways. He enjoys hanging out with friends, is close to his family and hopes one-day to become a journalist. But he is missing an essential part of growing up – attending school. Read More >>>

September, 2016

‘Walk a Mile’ in a refugee’s shoes(Washington, D.C.). September 12, 2016 – While it is impossible to fully comprehend what it’s like to live as a refugee, the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA’s Walk a Mile in My Shoes simulation provides individuals a chance to begin to understand the frustrations, disappointments and hopes facing refugees. JRS/USA’S Giulia McPherson explains how to get involved. Read More >>>

September, 2016

Concert tour will benefit refugee education(Washington, D.C.) September 6, 2016 — Five of America’s most popular musical acts are coming together for an 11-stop concert tour this fall to raise awareness of the unprecedented worldwide refugee crisis. Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees will be headlined in North America by Grammy Award-winning artists Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and The Milk Carton Kids. Read More >>>

September, 2016

Refugee summits must provide access to education for all displaced children(Washington, D.C.) September 7, 2016 —The Global Campaign for Education – US, a broad-based coalition of more than 80 members, including Jesuit refugee Service/USA, dedicated to ensuring universal quality education for all children, urges the United Nations, the U.S. Government and world leaders to accelerate progress towards universal access to education for displaced children.Read More >>>

September, 2016

JRS, Caritas respond to UN Summit Outcome Document(Rome) September 7, 2016 — Caritas Internationalis and Jesuit Refugee Service are concerned by the gap between declarations and current policies and practices on the ground. We insist that the outcome of the summit must ensure real change to benefit migrants and refugees, ensuring their protection, safety and dignity. Read More >>>

September, 2016

Take Action: Support Education for All(Washington, D.C.) September 7, 2016 — As early as today, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the Education for All Act, bipartisan legislation building on current U.S. efforts to ensure equal access to quality education for children throughout the world, including those impacted by crisis and conflict.Read More >>>

September, 2016

Stopping the Boats: A Threat to the Architecture of Protection(Kings Cross, NSW) September 1, 2016 — The numbers of refugees from the Syrian conflict is staggering: nearly five million people have managed to escape the horror and violence of the civil war; these are the lucky ones, the refugees fortunate enough to cross international borders into neighboring countries in search of safety and protection.Read More >>>

August, 2016

Patty Griffin: Refugees are a humanitarian — not political — issue (Tucson, Ariz.) August 31, 2016 — Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Patty Griffin traveled to the Kino Border Initiative at the Arizona-Mexico border in August as part of a Jesuit Refugee Service/USA delegation to see first-hand what it means to accompany the most vulnerable. Ms. Griffin shared her thoughts about what it means to provide humanitarian assistance for deported migrants.Read More >>>

August, 2016

Kenya: helping staff and refugees self-heal from trauma(Nairobi) August 30, 2016 — Capacitar, meaning to empower in Spanish, was designed to subside suffering among populations who have undergone serious trauma, stress or compassion fatigue by helping people to manage their emotions, control their energy levels, relieve physical and emotional stress, and transform cycles of violence. Read More >>>

August, 2016

Stopping the Boats – A False Dichotomy(Kings Cross, NSW, Australia) August 26, 2016 – For the past three years we have been told by the Australian government that offshore processing on Nauru and Manus Island is necessary to deter others from making the dangerous sea journey. But this choice – sending refugees to offshore processing centers or deaths at sea – is a false dichotomy. There are alternativesRead More >>>

August, 2016

Take Action on World Humanitarian Day(Washington, D.C.) August 18, 2016 — Humanitarian aid workers stand daily on the front lines of war and disaster, braving tremendous dangers and difficulties to deliver assistance to those who need it most. World Humanitarian Day — commemorated each August 19 — recognizes those who risk their lives in humanitarian service and mobilizes all of us to advocate for humanitarian action.Read More >>>

August, 2016

Australia: Stopping the boats does not solve the problem (Kings Cross, NSW) August 3, 2016 – Austria’s foreign minister has suggested that people seeking asylum in Europe should not be allowed to enter the continent, but should be held on offshore islands instead. But if Foreign Minister Kurz were to look more closely he would see that such tough border policies are having potentially catastrophic consequences.Read More >>>

July, 2016

JRS joins Tent Alliance to aid refugees (Washington, D.C.) July 13, 2016 – Jesuit Refugee Service is pleased to announce it has joined the Tent Alliance, a partnership of major companies and nonprofit groups dedicated to helping refugees worldwide, with an ultimate goal of finding solutions to end the global refugee crisis. The
partnership will allow JRS to develop relationships with key private and
nonprofit partners in a wide range of sectors.Read More >>>

June, 2016

World Refugee Day 2016 — open minds, unlock potential(Rome) June 20, 2016 — An unprecedented 60 million people — mothers, fathers, sisters and children — have fled their homes seeking safety. Imagine everyone in the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada and Colorado in motion: taking trucks, rafts, footpaths and trains; taking children, blankets, clothing and, most often, taking nothing.Read More >>>

June, 2016

Emmylou Harris: Refugees ‘have so much to offer’(Shire, Ethiopia) June 17, 2016 – Grammy winning singer/songwriter Emmylou Harris traveled to Ethiopia in June as part of a Jesuit Refugee Service delegation to learn more about issues affecting refugees, particularly the need for education. Ms. Harris talked with JRS about her impressions, how she came to partner with JRS and what the world can do to help mitigate the refugee crisis.Read More >>>

June, 2016

Media advisory: World Refugee Day 2016(Rome) June
15, 2016 – This World Refugee Day (June 20), Jesuit Refugee Service calls upon
us to provide refugees with a safe place to stay and with opportunities to grow
and contribute to society. To truly protect means keeping people safe from all
evils, including poverty, isolation, exploitation, misconception and neglect. For this
reason, this year JRS is using the theme, Open
minds, unlock potential.Read More >>>

June, 2016

Photos: Emmylou Harris tours JRS projects in Ethiopia(Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) June 12, 2016 — “I believe passionately in the work Jesuit Refugee Service is doing around the world to help people who are just searching for a decent, better life,” said singer/songwriter Emmylou Harris last week during a visit to Jesuit Refugee Service projects in Ethiopia. Ms. Harris joined a JRS delegation to learn more about issues affecting refugees, particularly the need for education.Read More >>>

Europe: safe and humane channels needed(Brussels) June 1, 2016 – According to the UN refugee agency at least 880 forced migrants have perished in a series of shipwrecks on the central Mediterranean over the last week. JRS unequivocally calls upon national and supranational policymakers to use all the means at their disposal to create safe and humane passages for people in need of protection.Read More >>>

May, 2016

JRS Welcomes 'Education Cannot Wait' Fund(Washington, D.C. and Rome) May 24, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service is gratified the international community made a commitment to education Monday at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul. The Education Cannot Wait fund follows on the heels of the JRS Global Education Initiative launched last December.Read More >>>

Education is a Life Saving Intervention for Refugees(Washington, D.C.) May 19, 2016 — In 'Providing Hope, Investing in the Future: Education in Emergencies & Protracted Crises,' Jesuit Refugee Service confirms that education is a life-saving intervention for children and adolescents who are forcibly displaced from their homes. JRS organizes educational and recreational activities to heal trauma, promote human dignity, and build skills. Read More >>>

May, 2016

Kenya: JRS, Bishops urge mercy for refugees(Nairobi) May 18, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service stands in solidarity with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops in their call for a more compassionate response to the country's refugee community. Guided by the principles of Catholic social teachings on migrants, JRS and the Bishops emphasize that Kenya's regulation of borders and control of immigration, particularly forced migration, must be governed by concern for all people, mercy, and justice. Read More >>>

May, 2016

Kenya urged to reconsider plans to close refugee camps (Nairobi) May 10, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service and 10 other organizations today note the contributions that Kenya has made to refugees over the years, but strongly urge a reconsideration of the move to disband the Department of Refugee Affairs and close camps which are home to hundreds of thousands of people. Read More >>>

May, 2016

Young refugees discuss painful past, bright future(Washington, D.C.) March 10, 2016 – This article was updated on May 6 to include a video featuring participants at the event. Although 25 bright young minds traveled to the District of Colombia from across the U.S. recently for a three-day conference, their journey actually began years earlier and far away. While their stories vary on how they came to the United States, they share a common bond of tragedy, struggle, hope and renewal in their new homeland. Read More >>>

May, 2016

JRS resumes activities in Aleppo, Syria (Aleppo, Syria) May 5, 2016 – Jesuit Refugee Service has resumed relief and humanitarian activities in Aleppo, Syria after a two-day suspension due to heavy bombing. A 48-hour truce has helped in the cessation of hostilities and improved the security situation in the area. JRS operations in the city include daily food distribution, and educational and counseling services. Read More >>>

May, 2016

JRS Europe: EU-Turkey deal is 'risking lives'(Brussels) May 5, 2016 – “The EU-Turkey deal represents a seismic shift in the European Union’s policy towards forced migrants and its international protection obligations,” concludes the extensive policy analysis of the deal by Jesuit Refugee Service Europe. The analysis – made available to policymakers, legal practitioners and other stakeholders – identifies several human rights concerns.Read More >>>

May, 2016

JRS offers hope through special needs education (Kakuma, Kenya) May 3, 2016 – "Even though I cannot see, I know more than many of you who can see, and that is what is important for me,” said Rhoda Atong Majok, a blind South Sudanese refugee who is among 37 children at Kenya’s Kakuma camp to attend primary school through the help of a JRS special needs scholarship. Read More >>>

April, 2016

U.S. must provide legal representation to minors(Washington, D.C.) April 29, 2016 — When young asylum seekers flee extreme violence to seek safety in the United States, they often find themselves in immigration court without a lawyer. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and 176 other organizations today urged the United States Attorney General to halt the practice of pursing deportation hearings against minors who have no legal representation. Read More >>>

Pope Francis to refugees: “You are not alone”(Rome) April 17, 2016 — Pope Francis yesterday stood in solidarity with refugees and migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos, reminding them “you are not alone.” The Pope followed his words with action. On his return to the Vatican, he brought with him a dozen Syrian Muslim refugees — including six children, personally demonstrating the values of welcome and accompaniment. Read More >>>

April, 2016

Take Action: Support the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act(Washington, D.C.) April 14, 2016 — Today, more than 93,000 children seeking asylum in the United States are forced to represent themselves in court without a lawyer. These children have fled violence, persecution and extreme poverty in their home countries, and now must navigate the legal system on their own.Read More >>>

April, 2016

Greece: Pope to visit Lesbos, a symbol of hope for refugees (Rome) April 12, 2016 – At a time when hundreds of thousands are risking their lives to reach safety in Europe, Jesuit Refugee Service is very pleased that Pope Francis will visit the Greek island of Lesbos, a major transit point, this Saturday, April 16, to confront the emergency situation of refugees and the need for international solidarity.Read More >>>

April, 2016

Syria: Fr Frans lives on as a beacon of hope(Beirut) April 6, 2016 — Jesuit Father Frans van der Lugt was killed in Homs, Syria, on April 7th 2014. Frans was a healer — he touched the broken spirits of a battered people; he did not care for himself, if someone was physically sick, he did all he could to make them well again. Fr Frans is revered as a Saint today by both Muslims and Christians. Read More >>>

April, 2016

Europe: EU-Turkey deal violates international law(Rome) April 1, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service is deeply concerned by the deal between the EU and Turkey regarding refugee relocation and resettlement. The decision to push refugees and migrants back to Turkey is a violation of the international law to provide protection, and contrary to EU principles of guaranteeing the right to claim asylum and prohibiting collective expulsions. Read More >>>

March, 2016

U.S. must not dismantle Refugee Admissions Program(Washington, D.C.) March 17, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA joined the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Church World Service, Oxfam America and more than 230 other organizations in writing a letter to ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee opposing the so-called “Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act of 2016.” Read More >>>

March, 2016

Take Action: Oppose efforts to restrict refugee resettlement(Washington, D.C.) March 16, 2016 — This week marks the fifth anniversary of the start of the Syrian civil war, which has resulted in more than 250,000 casualties, some 4.6 million people displaced within Syria and an additional 4.8 million who have fled the country. Congress is today scheduled to debate a bill which would impose harmful restrictions on U.S. policy as it relates to refugees, including those from Syria.Read More >>>

March, 2016

Top UN official meets refugees at JRS Ethiopia center(Addis Ababa) March 11, 2016 — "I will bring your stories back with me to the United Nations. But I can assure you that your situation and problems are known and are at the very core of what we at the UN are trying to deal with better," United Nations General Assembly President Moges Lykketoft told refugees after the meeting.Read More >>>

March, 2016

International Women's Day: Voices of Faith(Vatican City) March 9, 2016 — A Voices of Faith event at the Vatican to commemorate International Women's Day brought together women speaking on the theme "Mercy requires courage," which stems from the Jubilee Year of Mercy and Pope Francis's call for believers to make their mercy a concrete reality as opposed to an abstract idea.Read More >>>

March, 2016

Voices of Faith celebrating International Women’s Day(Rome) March 1, 2016 — Voices of Faith and Jesuit Refugee Service invite you to learn more about the Third Voices of Faith female storytelling festival and this year's motto “Mercy requires Courage.” A partnership between Voices of Faith and JRS based on common values centered on the importance of education at large, particularly for females, will be officially announced.Read More >>>

Australia: harsh border policies not the whole story(Sydney) February 26, 2016 — "The issue of refugees and asylum seekers in urban areas will become one of our main challenges in the coming years along with the inter-religious and inter-faith element of it," said Fr Bambang A Sipayung S.J., Director Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific.Read More >>>

February, 2016

Ethiopia: education promotes self-reliance(Dollo Ado, Ethiopia) February 25, 2016 – Kaadi Ali Ibrahim used to measure his assets in livestock – camels, cattle and goats. But his new home in Melkadida refugee camp does not offer much space to herd or trade animals. Those who flee must leave not only their homes, but their whole livelihoods behind.Read More >>>

February, 2016

Malawi: Education initiative impacts young lives (Dzaleka, Malawi) February 19, 2016 – A joint initiative of Jesuit Refugee Service and Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins is giving young students at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp a chance to better their lives through higher education. Young
women are particularly empowered by the program.Read More >>>

February, 2016

Jesuits advocate for migrants as Pope visits border(University Heights, OH) February 12, 2016 — During Pope Francis’s historic visit to the border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on Wednesday, Feb. 17, thousands affiliated with Jesuit institutions across the U.S. will echo his call for a compassionate response toward migrants by holding masses, erecting “mock border walls,” and signing a letter to members of Congress.Read More >>>

February, 2016

Europe: protect refugees, a collective responsibility (Rome) February 5, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service is seriously concerned by the disjointed reaction and arbitrary and deleterious security measures EU Member States have adopted as a response to the numbers of people fleeing to Europe these last few weeks. Refoulement and the closing of borders are among the most serious violations of treaties and conventions signed by the EU and Member States. Read More >>>

JRS Greece: hard conditions for asylum seekers in Athens(Athens, Greece) February 1, 2016 – Despite the winter cold and rough seas people continue to take great risks to reach Greece from Turkey. JRS is present on the Greek island of Lesbos and in Athens welcoming and accompanying new arrivals, with many asylum seekers sent by Greek authorities to detention centers.Read More >>>

January, 2016

Keep places of worship free of raids(Washington, D.C.) January 29, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA has joined more than 90 faith-based organizations and faith leaders in calling on President Obama to immediately halt Department of Home Security raids aimed at rounding up Central American asylum-seeking families and deporting them back to the danger they have been seeking to escape.Read More >>>

January, 2016

Myanmar: Is it safe for refugees to return after elections(Mae Hong Son, Thailand) January 28, 2016 – Myanmar in November held its first national vote since a nominally civilian government was established in 2011, ending almost 50 years of military rule. There has been much optimism for national reconciliation, including a repatriation of Burmese refugees who fled decades ago.Read More >>>

January, 2016

Temporary Protected Status urged for Central Americans(Washington, D.C.) January 25, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA joined 272 other organizations asking the U.S. to designate El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras for Temporary Protected Status. These three countries warrant TPS designation in light of the dramatically escalating violence that has precipitated a humanitarian crisis of refugees fleeing the Northern Triangle countries. Read More >>>

January, 2016

Cambodia: Montagnard refugees' cases are finally heard (Phnom Penh) January 22, 2016 — In this historic period where the world is seeing millions of forcibly displaced people on the move, and countries breaching their obligations under international law to protect them, the Jesuit Refugee Service is glad to see that a group of ethnic Vietnamese Montagnard refugees will have access to a fair asylum process in Cambodia. Read More >>>

January, 2016

Take Action: Urge Your Senators to Oppose H.R. 4038UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your support in helping defeat H.R. 4038! (Washington, D.C.) January 19, 2016 — The Senate is poised to vote TOMORROW (Wednesday, January 20) on the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act – H.R. 4038 – which would halt the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the U.S. JRS/USA is urging the Senate to defeat the bill. Read More >>>

January, 2016

JRS expands services for refugees in Thailand (Washington, D.C.) January 13, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service in Bangkok had a busy 2015, ending a 12-month program that served almost 640 extremely vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers with projects dedicated to improve access to primary healthcare, medical services, mental health and psychosocial support.Read More >>>

January, 2016

Common action needed, not unilateral border controls(Brussels) January 7, 2016 – Jesuit Refugee Service Europe is concerned that Sweden has reinstated identity checks at its border with Denmark. Although many countries in Europe are dealing with high numbers of new arrivals from war-torn countries, unilaterally setting up border controls can only exacerbate migration problems and hinder the development and implementation of international solutions.Read More >>>

January, 2016

JRS urges protection for asylum seekers, not deportation(Washington, D.C) January 4, 2016 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA joined the American Immigration Lawyers Association and more than 150 other organizations in a letter to President Obama opposing DHS plans to deport Central American children and their parents. The letter urges the President to offer greater protection to Central American families fleeing violence.Read More >>>

December, 2015

The Spirituality of Accompaniment(Washington, D.C.) December 10, 2015 — On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Fr. David Hollenbach S.J. delivered an Advent Sacred Lecture on the Spirituality of Accompaniment. Tuesday was also the first day of the Holy Year of Mercy, and the launch date of the Jesuit Refugee Service Mercy in Motion campaign in support of our Global Education Initiative.Read More >>>

Pope Francis begins first visit to Africa(Nairobi) November 25, 2015 — Today Pope Francis embarks on his first journey to Africa, beginning his five-day trip in Nairobi before going on to Kampala, Uganda, and then Bangui, Central African Republic. Jesuit Refugee Service works with refugees in all three countries the Holy Father will visit on his historic journey.Read More >>>

Take Action: We must welcome refugees(Washington, D.C.) November 18, 2015 — In the wake of the Paris attacks, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is alarmed that blame is being placed on people fleeing horrific violence and terrorism in Syria. Our nation is better than that. Take action and call on the U.S. to address the root causes of the Syrian conflict.Read More >>>

November, 2015

Syrian refugees deserve welcome, not rejection(Washington, D.C.) November 17, 2015 — As soon as we learned of last Friday’s horrific terrorist attack on Paris, the people of the United States reacted with an immediate outpouring of deep sympathy and solidarity for the people of France. But in the days following the tragedy, a dark side to this reaction has emerged.Read More >>>

November, 2015

United States can and should be a leader in refugee protection and resettlement(Washington, D.C.) November 17, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and the National Advocacy office of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States today joined humanitarian agencies urging members of Congress to oppose efforts to suspend the U.S. refugee resettlement program or restrict funding for Syrians and other groups of refugees. The 81 agencies note that the U.S. is a welcoming country with a diverse society and our resettlement program must continue to reflect this. Read More >>>

Angola: survivors of sexual violence reclaim their rights(Lunda Norte Province, Angola) November 9, 2015 — Maria Jose Mambole, a refugee from the DRC, speaks before a group of 30 women about sexual violence. Despite the poverty and xenophobia these women already face as refugees, they are burdened with an additional power-gap due to their gender. Together, they have committed themselves to be activists for change. Read More >>>

November, 2015

JRS at 35: Honoring a life of service to the vulnerable(Washington, D.C.) November 4, 2015 — On Dec. 1, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA will present JRS Malta’s Dr. Katrine Camilleri the JRS Service Award. The award is one of three to commemorate the founding of JRS in November 1980. For almost two decades Dr. Camilleri has aided thousands of boat people arriving on Malta.Read More >>>

November, 2015

JRS at 35: Honoring a nun’s dedication(Washington, D.C.) November 3, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA will commemorate 35 years of working alongside refugees and the displaced on Dec. 1, and present Sr. Denise Coghlan of JRS Cambodia with the JRS Accompany Award. Fr. Pedro Arrupe S.J. founded JRS in November 1980, in response to the exodus of refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia.Read More >>>

November, 2015

JRS at 35: Humanitarian advocate to be honored(November 2, 2015) Washington, D.C. — Jesuit Refugee Service was founded 35 years ago this month by then Superior General Fr. Pedro Arrupe. JRS/USA will commemorate our history of service to refugees and the forcibly displaced with a dinner on Dec. 1, and present T. Alexander Aleinikoff with the JRS Advocacy Award.Read More >>>

October, 2015

Canadian NGOs urge incoming Prime Minister to improve refugee system(Montreal) October 29, 2015 — As a member of the Canadian Council for Refugees, Jesuit Refugee Service of Canada has endorsed a letter written by the Council which praises the commitments that Mr. Trudeau, Prime Minister Designate of Canada, has made. In the letter, the Council members urge Mr. Trudeau to work with stakeholders in the refugee field in order to improve upon the Canadian refugee system. Read More >>>

October, 2015

Take Action: urge funding to address refugee crisis(Washington, D.C.) October 27, 2015 — Over the past several weeks, the global community has been grappling with how to respond to thousands of refugees fleeing conflict throughout the Middle East and Africa. Please send a message to Congress urging them to take quick action. Time is of the essence; policymakers need to know Americans care about the plight of refugees and are calling for action. Read More >>>

October, 2015

Europe: Top Jesuits call for solidarity with refugees(Brussels) October 22, 2015 – Hospitality and generosity should be at the center of our response to the increased arrivals of refugees in Europe, say a group of leading European Jesuits. Noting the suffering people have endured in trying to reach safety, the Jesuits call for renewed energy and vision in building active solidarity and hospitality with refugees.Read More >>>

Syrian refugee crisis risks creating lost generation (Washington, D.C.) October 14, 2015 — Refugees fleeing Syria’s more than four-year civil war have led to massive overcrowding in public schools in Lebanon, Jordan and other neighboring countries, leaving hundreds of thousands of Syrian children without access to formal education and threatening their immediate and long-term well-being. Read More >>>

October, 2015

Refugees in Croatia find support from JRS(Zagreb) October 2, 2015 — After Hungary completed construction of a barbed wire fence along its border with Serbia, people traveling through the Balkans began arriving in Croatia. JRS South East Europe was there to provide assistance in the reception center near Zagreb from midnight 16-17 September when the first group of refugees arrived.Read More >>>

October, 2015

U.S. has moral responsibility to welcome refugees(Washington, D.C.) October 1, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and the U.S. Jesuit Conference joined a broad coalition of interfaith leaders from across the country in writing to members of the U.S. Congress to urge that vulnerable individuals from a host of religions, ethnicities and backgrounds have been and should continue to be resettled in the United States. Read More >>>

September, 2015

Ten urgent steps to address the refugee crisis(Washington, D.C.) September 23, 2015 — The International Council of Voluntary Agencies, of which Jesuit Refugee Service is a member, is today urging specific actions to be taken to alleviate the current refugee crisis. ICVA members envision a world in which vulnerable people are effectively protected, assisted, and enabled to rebuild their lives and livelihoods with dignity.Read More >>>

September, 2015

NGOs urge U.S. to step up response to Syrian crisis(Washington, D.C.) September 18, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA together with dozens of other state and national organizations across the United States today wrote to President Obama to urge the U.S. to “respond to the spiraling refugee crisis in the Middle East that is now overflowing to Europe and beyond.”Read More >>>

September, 2015

European leaders: protecting life must come first (Brussels) September 17, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service Europe calls on the extraordinary EU council meeting on 22 September to urgently take common action to protect refugees in Europe. The Council of Ministers meeting held in Brussels on 14 September failed to embrace the hospitality shown to asylum seekers by civil society and individuals over the past few weeks. Read More >>>

September, 2015

Refugee children receive critical assistance at Kakuma (Washington, D.C.) September 16, 2015 — Milk and porridge. Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest difference. Ahmed, a nine-year-old boy living in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, used to be too weak to chew and swallow solid food. But with nutritional assistance provided by Jesuit Refugee Service he has shown steady signs of improvement.Read More >>>

September, 2015

U.S. takes steps to admit more Syria refugees; more must be done to help those in need(Washington, D.C.) September 10, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA welcomes the announcement Thursday at the White House that the United States will accept at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next year. However, JRS believes the U.S. must do far more to ensure that not only Syrians but also refugees of other nationalities seeking protection by flight across the Mediterranean are offered the dignity, compassion and opportunity they deserve.Read More >>>

September, 2015

Europe: Catholics answer Pope's call to welcome refugees (Brussels) September 8, 2015 — Catholics across Europe are answering Pope Francis's call to show hospitality to refugees. Since the Pope's statement earlier this week, Jesuit Refugee Service has heard from thousands of people eager to host refugees in their homes, provide clothing or offer other help to those in need.Read More >>>

Take Action: European Refugee Crisis(Washington, D.C.) September 4, 2015 — The images say it all. Overcrowded camps and cities filled with refugees. Boats holding more than they should carry over the Mediterranean waters. Families carrying children across railroad tracks in transit throughout Europe. Bodies washed ashore. Please take a moment to urge the U.S. government to demonstrate leadership at this critical time.Read More >>>

September, 2015

Show your support for programs to #EducateRefugees(Washington, D.C.) September 3, 2015 — After a busy few weeks of families wrapping up summer activities and scrambling to buy school supplies, most children in the United States have returned to school. This is a time of renewal, excitement and hope for young people across the country as their minds are exposed to new ideas and opportunities.Read More >>>

August, 2015

Europe: Yes, we can prevent refugee deaths (Brussels) August 31, 2015 — With no alternatives, people fleeing war and oppression try to reach safety in Europe at any cost. All too often they die. Stopping such tragedies is entirely achievable. Through cooperation and good governance European states may open legal and safe channels for refugees to reach Europe. Now is the time for a European humanitarian visa plan. Read More >>>

August, 2015

Europe: Civil society acts to welcome refugees(Brussels) August 21, 2015 — As discussions continue on the political level about how to deal with increased numbers of asylum seekers in Europe, many citizens across the continent have been quick to set up local initiatives to welcome and support refugees, demonstrating that hospitality and friendship is possible even in difficult circumstances, such as in Greece, Hungary and Italy.Read More >>>

August, 2015

Join Jesuit Refugee Service in New York on Dec. 1(Washington, D.C.) August 10, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA supporters and friends are invited to join us for the JRS 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner in New York City on December 1, 2015, as we commemorate 35 years of service to refugees and the forcibly displaced.Read More >>>

June, 2015

Legal challenges facing Central American asylum seekers(Washington, D.C.) June 16, 2015 — In recognition of World Refugee Day, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and 13 Jesuit law schools announce A Fair Chance for Due Process: Challenges in Legal Protection for Central American Asylum Seekers and Other Vulnerable Migrants. The report highlights Jesuit law school efforts to assist Central Americans in need, and challenges faced in delivering these services. Read More >>>

June, 2015

World Refugee Day: push forward, not back(Rome) June 15, 2015 — For World Refugee Day this weekend, Jesuit Refugee Service urges you to remember that the key to change is within each of us. While governments decide to accept or reject refugees, only we have the power to truly welcome them. We must change our fixed view of refugees as ‘the other.’Read More >>>

May, 2015

Asia Pacific: Rohingya adrift in dire straits(Bangkok) May 19, 2015 – For decades, countries in the Asia Pacific region have closed their borders to Rohingya migrants, leaving little space for protection. Jesuit Refugee Service is deeply concerned with the rapidly deteriorating situation the Rohingya are facing in the region and calls for urgent regional cooperation to find a life-saving and permanent solution.Read More >>>

May, 2015

Streamlining child protection in Eastern Africa(Nairobi) May 6, 2015 — Ayaan is the top student in her class. Born to Somali refugees in Nairobi, she hopes to be a surgeon one day. However, for months last year she had to suspend her studies after being intimidated, threatened and beaten by young men in her community.Read More >>>

April, 2015

Jesuits respond to Nepal earthquake(Washington D.C., Rome) April 30, 2015 – Last Saturday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal has left more than 5,000 people dead, 10,000 injured, thousands more homeless, and untold numbers isolated in remote villages. The United Nations expects those numbers to rise as aid workers and search and rescue teams access remote areas closer to the epicentre of the earthquake.Read More >>>

April, 2015

Kino Border Initiative recognized for commitment to dignity(Nogales, Ariz.) April 28, 2015 — The Kino Border Initiative, a Jesuit ministry on the U.S.-Mexico border, will be honored with a “Legacy of the Martyrs” Award from the Ignatian Solidarity Network on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in recognition of their ongoing commitment to affirming the dignity of those who migrate through accompaniment, advocacy and education.Read More >>>

April, 2015

Europe must act to prevent more deaths at sea(Brussels) April 21, 2015 – As the death toll in the Mediterranean reaches record numbers, Europe's first priority must be to implement a full-scale search and rescue operation of refugees attempting the dangerous crossing. Saving human life must come first. Europe should follow the example of Italy. Now is the time for extraordinary action.Read More >>>

April, 2015

Boston man still running for refugees(Washington, D.C.) April 13, 2015 — John McLaughlin, an employee of Boston College and a parishioner at St. Ignatius Church in Newton, Mass., is again running in the Boston Marathon to raise funds to support the work of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA. This is his third marathon effort for refugees.Read More >>>

April, 2015

Structural violence begets sexual violence(Nairobi) April 6, 2015 – Every day, Jesuit Refugee Service teams witness how whole communities live under constant threat of sexual and gender based violence — early marriages, female genital mutilation, survival sex, sex trafficking and other sexual violations. Conflict, oppression and violence in societies lead to a climate where sexual violence becomes another expression of unjust power dynamics.Read More >>>

March, 2015

Take Action: Urge the U.S. to protect religious minorities(Washington, D.C.) March 27, 2015 — The Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act of 2015 seeks to enhance the protection of refugees from Iraq and Syria by allowing certain persecuted nationals or residents of Iraq or Syria to apply directly to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and by streamlining refugee processing.
Read More >>>

March, 2015

Jesuit Refugee Service, Jesuit law schools partner to address challenges faced by child migrants(Washington, D.C.) March 14, 2015 — As institutions rooted in the Catholic tradition of welcoming the stranger, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and Jesuit law schools in the U.S. are coming together to identify and address the challenges presented by the recent influx of Central American child migrants and migrant families. The partnership seeks to advance the legal, social and cultural protection of these migrants and others seeking refuge in the United States.Read More >>>

March, 2015

Ethiopia: photographs from Mai Aini refugee camp(Addis Ababa) March 2, 2015 — More than 18,000 refugees from Eritrea live in the Mai Aini refugee camp in northern Ethiopia. Jesuit Refugee Service provides counseling and recreation services to help the residents deal with the trauma of both their flight to safety and camp life.Read More >>>

February, 2015

South Sudan: strangers in our own land(Nairobi) February 24, 2015 – As South Sudanese leaders begin talks in Addis Ababa to discuss the establishment of a power-sharing agreement, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) urges them, on World Social Justice Day today, to prioritise the immediate preservation of human life and dignity in the country.Read More >>>

February, 2015

Ethiopia: photographs from the refugee community center(Addis Ababa) February 21, 2015 — The Jesuit Refugee Service refugee community center here — the only one of its kind in the city — offers language courses, library facilities, day-care services, computer classes and psychosocial support. The on-site emergency needs program provides financial support and counseling services for newly arrived refugees. Read More >>>

Red Hand Day: education provides children an alternative to joining armed groups(Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo) February 12, 2015 — International Red Hand Day aims to raise awareness of the plight of child soldiers all around the world. While Jesuit Refugee Service commends the steps taken by the Congolese government to end the recruitment of child soldiers, more steps need to be taken to provide educational and socio-economic alternatives for displaced children in camps. Read More >>>

February, 2015

SAFE Act undermines refugee, migrant protections (Washington, D.C.) February 11, 2015 — In a letter to Congress, the Jesuits of the United States declared their opposition to anti-immigrant amendments in the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. In their letter, the Jesuits note “Jesuit organizations throughout our country have long advocated for comprehensive, humane, and much needed solutions to our current broken immigration system.”Read More >>>

February, 2015

Syria: rocket attacks target civilians in Aleppo, Damascus (Rome) February 5, 2015 — Jesuit Refugee Service is extremely alarmed by the escalation in attacks on Aleppo and Damascus in the last few days. These indiscriminate attacks are targeting densely populated civilian areas. The level of violence in Damascus has reached unprecedented levels. The international community must take urgent action to protect the lives of civilian populations.Read More >>>

February, 2015

Take Action: urge Senate to protect immigrant families(Washington, D.C.) February 4, 2015 — Two weeks ago, many Members of the House of Representatives voted to compromise the safety, security, and dignity of our undocumented brothers and sisters by undoing the important steps the Administration has taken to address immigration reformRead More >>>

February, 2015

South Sudan Catholic Bishops: “take risks for peace”(Juba, South Sudan) February 2, 2015 — The Catholic Bishops of South Sudan released a statement Friday asking the leaders of the country to “Have the courage to go deeper, leave aside common assumptions, think outside the political box, make unthinkable concessions, and take risks to bring peace.”Read More >>>

February, 2015

Bicycles aid counselors at Kakuma refugee camp (Washington, D.C.) February 1, 2015 — Kakuma refugee camp hosts more than 170,000 refugees from about 12 African countries. Jesuit Refugee Service has provided services in Kakuma since 1994, and is currently the only organization in the camp that provides psychosocial support. A grant from the Loyola Foundation makes the service more manageable. Read More >>>

Bleak refugee camp life leads children to join armed groups(Mweso) January 20, 2015 — "I joined twice, because I had nothing to do," explains Pierre, a 17-year-old former child solider in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "The first time was in 2006. The recruiters in the camp promised me food, a job, and a military career. It didn't take much to get me to go into the bush and try my luck."Read More >>>

January, 2015

Kenya: protection needs increase with refugee influx(Kakuma, Kenya) January 15, 2015 — Without the opportunity to integrate into Kenyan society due to a strict encampment policy and with low chances of resettlement, most refugees in Kenya spend years living in refugee camps. While they are provided a physical space free from war, camps are not necessarily free from human rights abuses, particularly sexual and gender-based violence.Read More >>>

January, 2015

Faith groups urge support of immigration actions keeping families together(Washington, D.C.) January 13, 2015 — The interfaith community — including the Jesuit Conference and Jesuit Refugee Service/USA — today wrote to members of Congress to urge them to oppose any Congressional moves to repeal important programs such as the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or attempt to reinstate the dysfunctional Secure Communities program.Read More >>>

Jesuit leader encourages 'hospitality on the frontiers'(Rome) November 27, 2014 — To mark the 34th anniversary of Jesuit Refugee Service, last week Fr Adolfo Nicolás, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, discussed Hospitality on the Frontiers. In his conversation with the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Frederico Lombardi, Fr Nicolás encouraged governments and citizens to open their doors to refugees, recognizing service to refugees as "Gospel hospitality in action." Read More >>>

November, 2014

Australia closes door in the face of humanitarian crisis (Rome, Yogyakarta) November 26, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service observes with deep sadness yet another sudden retroactive change in Australian government policy towards people seeking international protection in southeast Asia. Australia has announced it will stop the resettlement of refugees who had registered with the UN refugee agency in Indonesia on or after July 1.Read More >>>

November, 2014

Legacy of Jesuit martyrs & companions inspires students(Washington, D.C.) November 25, 2014 — More than 1,600 attendees were inspired by the legacy of the Jesuit martyrs and their companions at the 17th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice recenty. The annual Catholic social justice conference is sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network. Attendees represented more than 95 Catholic institutions in 25 states, Canada, El Salvador, and Mexico. Read More >>>

November, 2014

Pope Francis visits European Parliament(Brussels) November 25, 2014 —As Pope Francis addresses the European Parliament today, Jesuit Refugee Service urges European countries to remain faithful to one of the fundamental values underpinning the European Union by showing concrete solidarity with migrants and refugees and ensuring joint search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. Read More >>>

November, 2014

U.S. Jesuits join Catholic bishops in welcoming President Obama's immigration relief plan(Washington, D.C.) November 24, 2014 — The Jesuits of the United States, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and the Kino Border Initiative welcome President Obama’s announcement of temporary relief from deportation for as many as five million of our community members. We also acknowledge that millions more families will continue to suffer under the constant specter of family separation caused by our broken immigration system, which can only be permanently resolved through positive, humane and practical legislation.Read More >>>

November, 2014

Dem. Rep. of Congo: Protect children from conflict (Rome) November 21, 2014 – Twenty-five years after the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1990, Child Soldiers International and Jesuit Refugee Service remain concerned by widespread abuses committed against children by armed forces and armed groups.Read More >>>

November, 2014

Groups outraged over detention of children and families(Washington, D.C.) November 20, 2014 — As the world marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child today, the U.S. has embarked on the largest family detention program since Japanese Internment. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA joins others in expressing outrage over the detention of children on the International Detention Coalition’s Day of Action demanding an end to child detention.Read More >>>

Young Catholic advocates to visit U.S. lawmakers(Washington, D.C.) November 14, 2014 — On Monday, nearly 1,000 Catholics will visit with their respective lawmakers to urge Congress to pass humane comprehensive immigration reform, support human rights oriented policies in Central America, and respond to climate change and effects marginalizing the economically poor. The day culminates this weekend’s Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice.Read More >>>

November, 2014

Jesuits reflect on ‘the martyrs’ of El Salvador(Washington, D.C.) November 10, 2014 — Twenty-five years after the massacre in El Salvador of six Jesuit priests, a housekeeper and her daughter, many are still waiting for justice in the case. None of the top military commanders who issued the orders to kill was ever prosecuted for the crimes. Writer William Bole shares the thoughts of Jesuits as they reflect on the meaning and the martyrdom. Read More >>>

Governments urged to protect Syrian refugees and civilians(Rome) October 28, 2014 – Foreign ministers from 20 countries and senior officials from 10 international organizations are meeting in Berlin today to discuss options for managing what risks becoming a protracted refugee crisis, with millions of displaced persons living in Syria and neighboring countries for years to come, even after an eventual end of the conflict.Read More >>>

October, 2014

Emergencies and new conflicts leave refugees hungry(Rome) October 16, 2014 — "Food saves lives. It helps us be productive citizens, and is essential to the development of our children," said Jesuit Refugee Service International Director Peter Balleis S.J. highlighting World Food Day today. "That is why we urgently need ... to create more opportunities for the forcibly displaced to build sustainable livelihoods." Read More >>>

October, 2014

Europe: Protection seekers stranded in Sicily(Brussels) October 7, 2014 — Interviews conducted with migrants stranded in southern Italy expose the failure of European reception systems to uphold principles of human dignity, hospitality and fairness, according to the findings of a new report by Jesuit Refugee Service. "My bones hurt. I still have back pains from sleeping on the street. I slept on cardboard with no blanket or sheets," says Kofi, whose wife and two children drowned as they attempted to join him in Europe.Read More >>>

Pope Francis on Migrants and Refugees(Washington, D.C.) October 3, 2014 — "Let us be their neighbors, share their fears and uncertainty about the future, and take concrete steps to reduce their suffering," Pope Francis said on World Refugee Day this year. Several additional compelling quotes from the Pope are included in the toolkit, “Advocating for the Rights of Unaccompanied Children,” built by our friends at the Ignatian Solidarity Network. Read More >>>

October, 2014

Safe passage into Europe needed for refugees(Brussels, Rome) October 2, 2014 – A year after the tragic death of nearly 400 forced migrants off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, tens of thousands of lives have been saved. The details of how close the victims were to the coast spurred the Italian government to act. Proof, if any was needed, of how much can be done when states priories life above border security.Read More >>>

September, 2014

Syria: protection of civilians must be world's priority(London) September 25, 2014 — Any further intervention in the Middle East must address the suffering of Syrian civilians, a global coalition of 39 leading human rights and humanitarian organizations says. Coinciding with the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, the #WithSyria coalition urges world leaders, whoever they support in the conflict, to make clear that they are on the side of civilians.Read More >>>

USA: Ban Landmine Use Everywhere, Korea Included(Washington D.C.) September 23, 2014 — Today’s announcement by the United States that it will not use antipersonnel landmines anywhere in the world except on the Korean Peninsula is a positive step, but the geographic exception must be overcome if the U.S. is to ever join the Mine Ban Treaty.Read More >>>

September, 2014

In Memoriam: Fr. Michael A. Evans S.J. (Washington, D.C.) September 3, 2014 — Former Jesuit Refugee Service/USA National Director Fr. Michael Evans S.J. passed away Monday. Fr. Evans was regional director of Jesuit Refugee Service Eastern Africa in Nairobi from 1991 to 1996, and was the national director of JRS/USA from 2010 to 2012.Read More >>>

August, 2014

World Day of Migrants and Refugees(Washington, D.C.) August 31, 2014 — The Catholic Church in Latin America celebrates the 100th World Day of Migrants and Refugees next Sunday, and Pope Francis released a message noting the hopes of and difficulties faced by people on the move in our global society. “Solidarity, acceptance, and signs of fraternity and understanding exist side by side with rejection, discrimination, trafficking and exploitation, suffering and death.”Read More >>>

August, 2014

Ethiopia now home to largest number of refugees in Africa(Washington, D.C.) August 25, 2014 — The UN refugee agency reported last week that Ethiopia is now the largest host country of refugees in Africa, surpassing Kenya. At the end of July, Ethiopia was home to more than 629,000 refugees, while neighboring Kenya hosts more than 575,000.Read More >>>

August, 2014

JRS Australia urges regional response to forced migration (Kings Cross, Australia) August 12, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service says the need for cross-border and regional collaboration on refugees has never been greater, and Australia has the potential to play a leading role in the development of a regional response to forced migration in the Asia-Pacific region.Read More >>>

Congress must address humanitarian crisis at the border(Washington, D.C.) July 23, 1014 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA today joined leading human rights, development, and faith-based organizations in an open letter to Members of Congress calling on legislators to address the humanitarian crisis of tens of thousands of children from Central America who have been apprehended and detained at the U.S. border. Read More >>>

UN leader should raise statelessness concerns during Dominican Republic visit(Washington, D.C.) July 14, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA joins our Jesuit partners in the Dominican Republic in calling on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to include in both private meetings and his public remarks concerns about the ongoing denial of nationality rights to Dominicans of Haitian descent during his visit to the Dominican Republic tomorrow.Read More >>>

July, 2014

JRS Australia: respect terms of Refugee Convention(King’s Cross, Australia) July 6, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service Australia has expressed deep concern about the recent interception of two boatloads of Sri Lankan asylum seekers by Australia — one of which remains in limbo while the High Court determines the legitimacy of the government’s actions vis-à-vis the passenger’s asylum bid. Read More >>>

July, 2014

JRS Australia concerned about refugees from Sri Lanka (King’s Cross, Australia) July 6, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service Australia is deeply concerned about reports that Australia has intercepted two boatloads of Sri Lankan asylum seekers near Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands and has planned a mid-ocean transfer to the Sri Lankan Navy after conducting a mere four-question assessment of the asylum seekers via video link.Read More >>>

Urgent Action Alert: Stop Cuts to Refugee Services(Washington, D.C.) June 25, 2014 — Just days after the June 20 commemoration of World Refugee Day, funding for the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement must be substantially increased to meet the needs of unaccompanied children, refugees and asylum-seekers. Members of Congress need to hear from you.Read More >>>

World Refugee Day: Compassion and Justice(Washington, D.C.) June 20, 2014 — As we commemorate World Refugee Day today, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA notes the courage and resilience of the millions of people forced to flee their homes, and the many people who welcome them into their communities.Read More >>>

June, 2014

Jesuit Refugee Service director kidnapped in Afghanistan(Rome) June 3, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service confirms that on Monday afternoon its country director, Alexis Prem Kumar S.J., was abducted by a group of unidentified men in western Afghanistan. "We are deeply shocked by Prem's abduction,” said Jesuit Refugee Service International Director, Peter Balleis S.J.
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June, 2014

World Refugee Day: Immigration policy separates families(Washington, D.C.) June 19, 2014 — Last year when speaking at an ad hoc Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., Jesuit Father Sean Carroll said: “With each passing day, we as a country continue to separate family members, through our immigration laws and our detention and deportation practices, contrary to the rhetoric of family values that permeates our political discourse.”Read More >>>

Honoring a Father's Perseverance(Washington, D.C.) June 14, 2014 — On Father's Day this year, we pause to take note of and honor fathers around the world who persevere under the most trying and severe of circumstances, doing what they can to provide for their children. Please join us in honoring, celebrating, and praying for fathers whose love for their children inspires us all. Read More >>>

June, 2014

JRS Australia calls for end to detention of children(Sydney) June 13, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service Australia has called for Australia to end to the detention of children and for the Immigration Minister to relinquish his role as detained children’s official guardian to avoid an ongoing conflict of interest. JRS said that the facilities in which 833 children are currently being held are inappropriate and that all children in detention should be immediately released.
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June, 2014

Jesuit concern for children in detention(Nogales, Ariz.) June 12, 2014 — Jesuit Fr. Sean Carroll, Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative, was able to visit unaccompanied children being held in detention in Nogales yesterday. Tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors are making a perilous journey, and the United Nations notes that the number of children traveling alone has doubled each year since 2011.Read More >>>

June, 2014

The other Syria: working for peace(Rome) June 11, 2014 — A core component of Jesuit Refugee Service work in Syria, and the region, is to promote inter-religious cooperation and dialogue in order to resist violence and sectarianism. More than 600 people from 17 to 70 years old, from a variety of ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds, comprise the JRS teams in Syria.Read More >>>

June, 2014

Crisis of Central American Migration through Mexico(Washington, D.C.) June 6, 2014 — Three events in the District of Colombia in the next week will highlight the growing humanitarian crisis for migrants in transit in Mexico. Generalized violence and widespread impunity in Mexico, combined with the need to travel clandestinely with limited resources, makes migrants in transit through Mexico highly vulnerable to abuse, violence and exploitation at each and every stage of their journey. Read More >>>

Central African Republic: providing aid amidst insecurity(Washington, D.C.) May 20, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service welcomes the statement by 26 NGOs in the Central African Republic reaffirming their commitment to the people there, and we echo their call for armed actors to respect humanitarian access. JRS currently supports the emergency education program established by UNICEF. Read More >>>

May, 2014

Central African Republic: Serving amid the chaos(Rome) May 14, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service has set up temporary safe spaces for children in a site for internally displaced people in Bangui, the battered capital of the Central African Republic. Teachers have been recruited and 16 sheds for classes and other activities were erected in early February in a camp at the Monastery of Boy Rabe. The activity is set to run at least until the end of July.Read More >>>

May, 2014

Meet with Congress to discuss Refugee Issues during Refugee Advocacy Week in June(Washington, D.C.) May 13, 2014 — Refugee Advocacy Week is June 2 through June 6 this year. Your our Senators and Representatives will be in their local offices this week, just before World Refugee Day on June 20. Please take this opportunity to meet with them to discuss important refugee policy and funding issues, introduce them to a refugee, or invite them to an event you're hosting for World Refugee Day.Read More >>>

May, 2014

Celebrating a Mother's Love(Washington, D.C.) May 10, 2014 — As we celebrate Mother’s Day, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA honors mothers everywhere who will do anything for their children. Please join us in honoring, celebrating, and praying for mothers whose love for their children inspires us all. Read More >>>

Kenya: counseling services help refugees cope(Washington, D.C.) April 24, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service has accompanied and served refugees in Kakuma refugee camp for 20 years. A grant from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration is enabling JRS to provide social services to residents of the camp in northwestern Kenya.Read More >>>

April, 2014

Community radio gives voice to refugees in Malawi(Dzaleka, Malawi) April 22, 2014 — Byamungu R. Joseph Papa started broadcasting news and music from his shack inside Malawi's Dzaleka refugee camp in 2005 using a battery, an amplifier and a megaphone. Speakers placed on the roof of his home broadcast his announcements of new arrivals and lost goats, international news and music programs.Read More >>>

April, 2014

Happy Easter(Washington, D.C.) April 20, 2014 — Pope Francis reminds us that "migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more."Read More >>>

Take Action for Humane Immigration Reform(Washington, D.C.) April 2, 2014 — Pope Francis visited the Italian island of Lampedusa last year to remember countless migrants and refugees from Africa and the Middle East who have lost their lives, sometimes forcibly turned back in rickety rafts while trying to reach Europe. Yesterday a delegation of U.S. Catholic Bishops visited the border to remember migrants who have died in the desert — a reminder of the true cost of inaction in the face of inhumane and uncaring policies.Read More >>>

March, 2014

JRS Syria receives Pax Christi International Peace Award(Rome) March 31, 2014 — The 2014 Pax Christi International Peace Award has been granted to Jesuit Refugee Service Syria for dedication in providing emergency relief to Syrians since the conflict began in 2011. Established in 1988, the Award honors contemporary individuals and organizations who make a stand for peace, justice and non-violence in different parts of the world.Read More >>>

Jesuit Refugee Service: The Way of the Cross(Washington, D.C.) March 5, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is pleased to again offer an online version of the Way of the Cross. The Way of the Cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross, grew from the pious practices of pilgrimages to Jerusalem during the Middle Ages. This version has been updated with new reflections and photographs from JRS projects around the world.Read More >>>

February, 2014

Dem. Republic of Congo: entrepreneurial bicyclists(Goma) February 27, 2014 — Trying to bring stability to displaced people in in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has become a major focus of Jesuit Refugee Service. One step in this direction has been to help people in Nzulo camp by providing microcredit to enable them to establish small business activities. Loans enable people to buy bikes they can use to transport coal, food and water to and from the camp.Read More >>>

Oscar nominated film illuminates child soldier issue(Washington, D.C.) January 30, 2014 — The live action short film Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me), written and directed by Esteban Crespo, highlights the harshness of the lives of child soldiers. The film has been nominated for an Academy Award and is now in theaters.Read More >>>

January, 2014

Migrants and refugees: toward a better world(Vatican City) January 29, 2014 – "Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more," said Pope Francis on the one hundredth anniversary of World Day for Migrants and Refugees.Read More >>>

January, 2014

Thailand: providing vital services to people in detention(Washington, D.C.) January 13, 2014 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA secured a grant from the J. Homer Butler Foundation that enabled Jesuit Refugee Service to provide medical care for detainees in Thailand’s largest immigration detention center, IDC Bangkok, which hosts an average of 1,000 detainees each day.Read More >>>

January, 2014

Jesuits urge peaceful resolution to South Sudan crisis(Washington, D.C.) January 8, 2014 — “We encourage all our friends and well-wishers of South Sudan, wherever they may be, to do all they can to advocate on behalf of South Sudan for a speedy, just and peaceful resolution of the current crisis,” said Jesuit Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, Provincial of East Africa.Read More >>>

November, 2013

Ignatian Social Justice advocates inspired by Teach-In(Washington, D.C.) November 27, 2013 — Mary Small of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA provided attendees a policy update on humane immigration reform as more than 1,300 people connected with Jesuit institutions and the larger Catholic Church joined together to learn more about and discuss social justice issues at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice here recently.Read More >>>

JRS: The legacy of Jesuit Father Pedro Arrupe(Washington, D.C.) November 13, 2013 — The history of Jesuit Refugee Service is about the lives and hopes of people we know personally. This personal knowledge constantly transforms our understanding. JRS opens a door — beyond transitory and shocking images — into the inspiring lives of people struggling to defend their rights, protect their families and give their children a future.Read More >>>

November, 2013

Social Justice Conference to culminate on Capitol Hill(Washington, D.C.) November 11, 2013 — More than 1,000 individuals connected with Jesuit institutions and the Catholic Church converge at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice this weekend. The Ignatian Solidarity Network, a social justice organization working primarily with Jesuit universities, high schools, parishes and other ministries throughout the country, sponsors the conference.Read More >>>

November, 2013

Afghanistan: Seeking peace, focusing on education(Washington, D.C.) November 7, 2013 — Jesuit Refugee Service has accompanied and served the people of Afghanistan for eight years by providing education at various levels, teacher training, vocational training and livelihoods programs to build up human and material resources for the sustainable development of vulnerable groups. Read More >>>

Crisis grows in Central African Republic(Washington, D.C.) October 31, 2013 — Jesuit Refugee Service and other organizations urge the international community to act quickly in the Central African Republic to protect civilians and prevent further atrocities against them. The increasingly dire humanitarian situation threatens the stability of the entire country.Read More >>>

October, 2013

JRS report highlights abuses against Central American migrants in Mexico(Washington, D.C.) October 28, 2013 — A new report from Jesuit Refugee Service/USA notes that the flows of migrants from Central America toward the U.S. require special consideration both from a human rights perspective and because their vulnerability is intimately linked to continued regional insecurity. The report, Persistent Insecurity: Abuses against Central Americans in Mexico, includes specific recommendations to alleviate the abuses faced by migrants on their journey.Read More >>>

Dominican Republic may render 500,000 stateless(Washington, D.C.) October 23, 2013 — One month ago, on September 23, the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic issued an extremely worrying ruling which threatens to denationalize as many as half a million Dominicans of foreign descent because their parents—or in some cases their grandparents or great-grandparents—were irregular migrants.Read More >>>

October, 2013

The only way forward in Syria is through a culture of encounter and dialogue(Beirut) October 9, 2013 — In response to the ongoing violent conflict in Syria, which has caused the death of more than 100,000 people and displaced almost seven million people, tens of thousands of Syrians across religious, ethnic and economic divides have been working continuously for harmony as they reach out to build "a culture of encounter and dialogue."Read More >>>

October, 2013

JRS Middle East Director visits U.S. to discuss Syria(Washington D.C.) October 8, 2013 — The Director of Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East and North Africa is visiting the United States to discuss the ongoing JRS response to the crisis in Syria with Jesuit colleagues, and staff from the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations.Read More >>>

October, 2013

Refugees earn diplomas from Jesuit Regis University(Dzaleka, Malawi) October 7, 2013 – In many ways, the graduation ceremony in Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi looked like any other — mortarboards and tassels, proud parents and renowned speakers giving advice. But it was anything but ordinary; it was first time ever that students were granted access to higher education in this refugee camp, or for that matter in most others.Read More >>>

Alternatives to immigration detention in Europe(Brussels) September 27, 2013 – Endangering the health and well-being of people by detaining them is unnecessary; governments can instead use community-based alternatives that are more dignified for migrants and more cost-effective for states. Jesuit Refugee Service Europe set out to understand what minimum factors are needed to ensure that alternatives to detention work. Read More >>>

Pope Francis' message to Jesuit Refugee Service(Rome) September 12, 2013 – Pope Francis made an official visit to the Jesuit Refugee Service Italy soup kitchen in Rome on Tuesday. Immediately following his visit, the Holy Father delivered this speech to those gathered in the Chiesa del Gesù, a Jesuit church in the center of Rome where the headquarters of Jesuit Refugee Service Italy is located.Read More >>>

September, 2013

Refugees share their stories with Pope Francis(Rome) September 11, 2013 — In anticipation of the visit yesterday by Pope Francis to Centro Astalli, the Jesuit Refugee Service center for refugees in Rome, several refugees shared their personal experiences in letters to the Holy Father. Two of those letters — written by refugees from Darfur and Syria — and a letter from the country director of JRS Italy are shared here with you.Read More >>>

September, 2013

Faith Leaders to Congress: Vote No on Syria Strikes(Washington, D.C.) September 10, 2013 — Fr. Thomas H. Smolich, S.J., President of the Jesuit Conference of the United States and a member of the Board of Directors of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, joined 40 other faith leaders from national Christian, Jewish, and Muslim organizations urging Congress to oppose the proposed authorization for the use of military force in Syria. Read More >>>

September, 2013

Pope Francis: War is always a defeat for humanity(Vatican City) September 9, 2013 – Tens of thousands of people answered the call by Pope Francis for a cry for peace in Syria on Saturday, a call which was echoed by Christians and non-Christians alike in vigils around the world. The Pope emphasized the futility and danger of war and the need for governments to map out a pathway to a non-violent solution in Syria.Read More >>>

September, 2013

Prayer for Syria: blessed are the peacemakers(Rome) September 6, 2013 — Pope Francis has invited Christians, faithful of other religions and all people of good will to join together tomorrow in a worldwide fast and prayer for peace in Syria. This appeal comes in midst of the public discussion about military options and interventions. The once hopeful movement for political change has now become a blood bath. Each turn in this conflict has led to increased violence and destruction.Read More >>>

September, 2013

Preview: The Refugee Voice looks at Panama(Washington, D.C.) September 3, 2013 — Despite the ongoing peace negotiations between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the largest guerilla group, displacements both within the country and across international borders have not slowed. Refugees in Panama report recent threats and attacks by guerillas, neo-paramilitaries and other armed groups.Read More >>>

August, 2013

Burma refugees strive for self-reliance in Thailand(Wieng Haeng, Thailand) August 29, 2013 – More than a decade ago, two Thai Buddhist temples opened their doors to provide sanctuary to 500 Burmese Shan refugees fleeing conflict between the Shan State Army and Burmese military forces in southern Burma. This hospitality was later extended to the refugees by the local authorities of the rural town of Wieng Haeng.Read More >>>

August, 2013

Chad: providing education to refugees from Darfur(Washington, D.C.) August 14, 2013 — Utilizing a grant from the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and our colleagues in the Jesuit Refugee Service West Africa Region are providing secondary education to refugees in two camps in Chad. Read More >>>

August, 2013

Faith leaders to host National Migration Conference(Washington, D.C.) August 9, 2013 — The 2014 National Migration Conference will be held in the nation's capital next July. The conference is expected to bring more than 800 participants, including renowned experts and speakers to discuss a wide range of migration related topics.Read More >>>

August, 2013

Promoting reconciliation in the lives of refugees (Siem Reap, Cambodia) August 8, 2013 – Jesuit Refugee Service partnered with Boston College to co-sponsor a reconciliation workshop in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in late June. Participants produced a corresponding draft document articulating the principles of reconciliation underlying JRS programming. The final version will be published this autumn.Read More >>>

July, 2013

JRS condemns new Australian refugee policy(Sydney) July 22, 2013 — Jesuit Refugee Service has condemned the Australian government’s ‘PNG Solution’ and has called on the Prime Minister to disclose the true cost of this cruel and inhumane policy — the cost to the Australian taxpayer, and to the community of Papua New Guinea and the lives of those people seeking refuge in Australia. Read More >>>

July, 2013

Australia: losing perspective in the search for simple solutions(Sydney) July 21, 2013 – Jesuit Refugee Service has welcomed the recent visit to Indonesia by the Australian Prime Minister as part of the 2013 leadership meeting between the two countries on July 5. JRS also commends the President of Indonesia's proposal for his country to host a regional summit on irregular movement of people in the region.Read More >>>

July, 2013

JRS joins multi-faith call for refugee protection(Geneva) July 10, 2013 – Jesuit Refugee Service joined together with the UN refugee agency and representatives of a number of faith-based organizations to call for greater protection for refugees. The declaration, known as an Affirmation of Welcome, is the first to involve UNHCR and a spectrum of faith-based organizations.Read More >>>

July, 2013

Pope calls for global response to forced migration(Rome) July 9, 2013 – Pope Francis made a symbolic stand for human rights and justice yesterday as he visited the island of Lampedusa, Italy, to stand in solidarity with the migrants and refugees who journey to the island in hopes of a peaceful future in Europe.Read More >>>

July, 2013

Podcast: Refugee from Afghanistan in Panama(Washington, D.C.) July 8, 2013 — In today's audio edition of The Refugee Voice we'll hear from a refugee from Afghanistan who has been living in Panama City, Panama, for more than three years. This man had a successful business before being forced to flee his country.Read More >>>

Sanctuary means protection for displaced in Congo(Rome) July 5, 2013 — "Congo is where we get the coltan to make our mobile phones and laptops. It's where we get diamonds for wedding rings. It's where we get copper for our houses and cars. It's also a place where nearly half of the women have been raped during conflict… where the state is weak and rogue militias are strong," said Jesuit Refugee Service Great Lakes Africa Communications Officer Danilo Giannese. Read More >>>

July, 2013

Europe: JRS notes gaps in asylum protection (Brussels) July 3, 2013 — The asylum system in Croatia is at the limit of its capacity, and is having trouble dealing with higher numbers of asylum seekers and migrants as it gets ready to join the EU, according to a new report by Jesuit Refugee Service Europe: 'From Back Door to Front Door: Forced migration routes through Macedonia to Croatia.'Read More >>>

June, 2013

JRS Concerned by Humanitarian Situation of Rohingya(Washington, D.C.) June 24, 2013 — Jesuit Refugee Service and 75 other organizations have released a statement urging the government of Myanmar to take action to protect the Rohingya, a stateless minority of Myanmar who have endured decades of abuse, persecution and discrimination. Read More >>>

June, 2013

Taking Action on World Refugee Day(Washington, D.C.) June 20, 2013 — The Senate immigration reform bill contains provisions that, if passed, would be a huge step forward for refugees and asylees in the United States. On World Refugee Day today, join Jesuit Refugee Service/USA in taking action to protect refugees and asylum seekers right here in the United States. Call your Senator and tell him or her why you care about refugees and asylum-seekers and ask them to protect ALL the asylum and refugee provisions currently in the bill. Read More >>>

June, 2013

Dem. Rep. of Congo: Prioritize child protection(Rome) June 20, 2013 – Jesuit Refugee Service, Child Soldiers International and other non-governmental organizations are urging the UN and Congolese government to use the imminent deployment of a UN “Intervention Brigade” in the Democratic Republic of Congo to strengthen the protection of children against recruitment and prevent their use in hostilities.
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June, 2013

Kenya: Nairobi church welcomes urban refugees(Nairobi) June 17, 2013 — The St. John the Baptist Catholic Church here offers sanctuary and sustenance to refugees and supports Jesuit Refugee Service by providing office space for a social worker and a meeting room for prayer groups of refugees. Additionally, parishioners have donated food and clothing to refugees in the area.Read More >>>

June, 2013

Father's Day Reflection(Washington, D.C.) June 16, 2013 — On this Father's Day, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA shares the story of a refugee from Syria. We honor the millions of refugee fathers who have the courage to flee to protect their families, who fight for their families as they seek refuge and safety in new lands, and who persevere in the face of immense challenges.Read More >>>

CINEP reveals that “false positives” continue(Bogotá) June 11, 2013 — The increase in the number of cases of “false positives” (extrajudicial killings), the continuation of paramilitarism and the impunity of rights violators are the most-worrying illegal practices in Columbia, according to a special 2012 report by the Center of Research and Popular Education/Program for Peace (CINEP/PPP).Read More >>>

June, 2013

Sanctuary and Sustenance: World Refugee Day 2013(Rome) June 10, 2013 — The Jesuit Refugee Service International office will host 'Sanctuary and Sustenance,' an outdoor photo projection and indoor photo gallery next week in Rome, to mark World Refugee Day. The photographs chronicle the resilience of refugees and the hospitality of their host countries.Read More >>>

June, 2013

Pontifical Council for Migrants: Humanity first(Rome) June 9, 2013 – Jesuit Refugee Service welcomes the latest report, published Thursday by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, as hugely significant to host communities receiving mixed flows of migrants and refugees.Read More >>>

June, 2013

Syria: civilians organize a cleaning campaign in Aleppo(Aleppo) June 6, 2013 – Since the end of a harsh winter, and the onset of summer, humanitarian agencies have been issuing health warnings in relation to the collapse of infrastructure and municipal services in Syria. In Aleppo, as temperatures rise above 85 degrees F., reports of preventable diseases are on the increase.Read More >>>

June, 2013

Europe: EU rules impede asylum protection(Brussels) June 4, 2013 – Asylum seekers in Europe are often faced with EU rules that hinder their ability to seek asylum in an EU country where they would feel most protected. This is according to a new Jesuit Refugee Service Europe report, 'Protection Interrupted,' released today. The report is based on interviews with 257 asylum seekers and migrants in nine EU countries.Read More >>>

June, 2013

JRS directors received by Pope Francis (Rome) June 3, 2013 — Jesuit Refugee Service International Director Peter Balleis S.J. and JRS Middle East and North Africa Director Nawras Sammour S.J. attended the final session of a three-day assembly promoting the theme of welcoming displaced people, during which Pope Francis made a plea to extend hospitality and pursue justice for refugees.Read More >>>

May, 2013

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Appoints National Director(Washington, D.C.) May 29, 2013 — The Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Board of Directors announced today that longtime staff member Armando Borja has been named our National Director. Since its founding in 1980, Jesuit Refugee Service has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of displaced people around the world. Our work in the U.S. includes chaplaincies for immigration detainees, advocacy on worldwide refugee issues and financial support for international projects.Read More >>>

May, 2013

JRS director underlines importance of Jesuit values (Spokane) May 28, 2013 – As they embark on the next stage of their lives university graduates should remember the Ignatian principle of pursuing aspirations both for oneself and our interconnected world, noted Jesuit Refugee Service International Director Fr. Peter Balleis S.J. in a speech at Gonzaga University.Read More >>>

May, 2013

Training volunteers for immigration detention programs(Washington, D.C) May 21, 2013 — Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement teamed up with Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, a longstanding partner of the U.S. visitation movement, to create two training videos: one on how to be a good listener and the other on how to recruit volunteers to the immigration detention visitation movement.Read More >>>

May, 2013

Immigration: limit dangerous deportation practices(Washington, D.C.) May 9, 2013 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and 60 other organizations have written a letter to members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee urging them to support an amendment that will limit dangerous deportation practices. The amendment was proposed by Sen. Chris Coons to S.744, the immigration reform bill under consideration. Read More >>>

May, 2013

U.S. and Colombian Faith Leaders Join to Support Peace with Justice in Colombia(Washington, D.C.) May 7, 2013 — Fifty-six faith leaders in the United States and Colombia have joined to send letters to U.S. President Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Kerry, and Colombian President Santos calling for U.S. policy that prioritizes peace and human rights in Colombia. These two letters urge the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerilla group to stay the course and continue negotiations until a peace-accord is signed. Read More >>>

April, 2013

Take Action for Peace with Justice in Colombia(Washington, D.C.) April 26, 2013 — With an ongoing civil war that has displaced more than five million people in the last 50 years, Colombia continues to suffer one of the largest displacements and humanitarian crises in the world today. More than half a million Colombians have fled Colombia into neighboring countries and those in Colombia still face violence in their communities. Unfortunately, U.S. policy towards the conflict has helped in fueling the violence.Read More >>>

Video: JRS in the Middle East(Los Angeles) April 15, 2013 — The Ignatian News Network met with Colin Gilbert, director of Jesuit Refugee Service Jordan, during his recent visit to Jesuit universities and parishes throughout the United States. Read More >>>

Immigration reform must preserve family unity(Washington, D.C.) April 10, 2013 — Father Sean Carroll S.J. is highlighting failures to preserve family unity in the context of immigration enforcement and offering four recommendations for Congressional consideration at an Ad Hoc hearing today on Capitol Hill. The Jesuit priest is Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative.Read More >>>

April, 2013

Immigration hearing to focus on family unity(Washington, D.C.) April 3, 2013 — Father Sean Carroll S.J., Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative, will testify with others on April 10 at an Ad-hoc Congressional Hearing. The Jesuit priest will address the human cost of the current immigration system as witnessed daily by staff and volunteers who serve at KBI’s Aid Center for Deported Migrants on the Arizona—Mexico border.Read More >>>

April, 2013

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA 2012 Annual Report(Washington, D.C.) March 22, 2013 — The 2012 Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Annual Report is now online. To reduce costs, a limited number are being printed. You can view and read a PDF of the report online, or download it to your favorite e-reader or tablet to read offline. Read More >>>

March, 2013

Rockhurst University highlights refugee issues(Washington, D.C.) March 12, 2013 — Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., will host a mock refugee camp on April 9 and April 10 to promote awareness among the Rockhurst community about the living conditions of refugees in camps throughout the world, and the setbacks these refugees encounter when applying for assistance.Read More >>>

March, 2013

Thailand: refugee camp fire relief efforts underway(Bangkok) March 27, 2013 – A fire that swept through Mae Surin refugee camp in northern Thailand last Friday has been met with swift relief by NGOs and community-based organizations. According to Jesuit Refugee Service staff, 37 Burmese refugees and asylum seekers lost their lives and several thousands have been made homeless.Read More >>>

March, 2013

Kenya: protecting women and children in Kakuma (Kakuma, Kenya) March 26, 2013 – Bridging the gender gap and protecting women and children are priorities for Jesuit Refugee Service and most, if not all, NGOs and UN agencies here in Kakuma refugee camp. Campaigns are organized to raise awareness of the plight of women, and education and training courses seek to strengthen the position of women. Read More >>>

March, 2013

Pope Francis: protect humanity, the poor, the weak(Rome) March 21, 2013 – In his inauguration Mass homily Tuesday, Pope Francis called on those in positions of responsibility and all men and women of goodwill to be protectors of creation and humanity, and not allow "hatred, envy and pride" to taint their lives.Read More >>>

March, 2013

Jordan: women empowering themselves(Amman) March 18, 2013 – The life-skills class at the informal education project in Amman is a recent addition to the curriculum. As more and more Syrian women brought their families to register at the school, it became evident that the women were also searching to learn practical new skills.Read More >>>

Film commemorates International Women’s Day(Washington, D.C.) February 26, 2013 — In celebration of International Women’s Day, please join Jesuit Refugee Service/USA for a screening of the documentary 'We Women Warriors' on Monday, March 11, at the Gala Hispanic Theatre in Washington, D.C.Read More >>>

March, 2013

Jordan: JRS adapts to community needs(Amman) March 7, 2013 – In its early years, the JRS school in Amman catered only to Iraqi refugees. But, the influx of Sudanese, Somali and Syrian students into the school in 2012 created many challenges. As Jordan hosts more refugees, the JRS school has adapted to the changing situation.Read More >>>

February, 2013

Migrants in detention: ‘you are not forgotten’(Washington, D.C.) February 28, 2013 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA provides direct service to detained migrants via the Detention Chaplaincy Program. Through the program, chaplains promote courage, hope and peace for detainees in the ups and downs and day-to-day routines of their lives inside a detention facility.Read More >>>

February, 2013

Congo: more action to make peace a reality(Goma/Washington, D.C./Kinshasa) February 24, 2013 – A group of prominent Congolese and international NGOs today called on countries in Africa's Great Lakes region and their international partners to ensure that the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement signed today is given the political backing necessary to bring an end to war in eastern Congo. Read More >>>

February, 2013

Dem. Rep. of Congo: call for a genuine peace process(Goma) February 14, 2012 – For years the international community has attempted to help stabilize eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, at the expense of billions of dollars, yet sustainable peace remains elusive. At the end of 2012 more than 2.7 million people were estimated displaced in DRC, up from 1.7 million in 2011.Read More >>>

February, 2013

Refugees, Migrants and The Way of the Cross(Washington, D.C.) February 13, 2013 — As the season of Lent commences, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA invites you to participate in our online Way of the Cross series. The series consists of a reflection centered on refugees and forcibly displaced migrants for each of the Stations of the Cross.Read More >>>

Signs of peace in Democratic Republic of Congo(Bujumbura, Burundi) February 5, 2013 – After months of bitter conflict, intercommunity tensions and dozens of dead in Masisi in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, there is an atmosphere of calm and a renewed sense of hope between local communities. The participation of teachers and students in a workshop on teaching methods is a concrete sign of this desire to start over.Read More >>>

January, 2013

Nepal: brighter future awaits 75,000 resettled refugees (New Delhi) January 25, 2013 – As the camp population decreases and the international resettlement effort continues, Jesuit Refugee Service celebrates the successful resettlement of 75,000 refugees from Nepal, the majority of them beginning new lives in the United States. Six-year-old Yagandra Kami recently became the 75,000th Bhutanese refugee to leave Nepal for a new life.Read More >>>

January, 2013

Jordan: there is a refugee inside each of us(Amman) January 11, 2013 – The Jesuit Commons—Higher Education at the Margins online diploma program was implemented in June 2012 in Amman. It serves as the first free tertiary education online program for refugees in the region. The first class, comprising 19 students, attend lessons together daily for three hours, allowing them to learn together.Read More >>>

January, 2013

India: training programs aid Chin refugees(New Delhi) January 4, 2012 – Twenty women graduated from the first Jesuit Refugee Service-sponsored Chin women's tailoring course here, receiving not only new sewing machines for Christmas, but the know-how to make use of them in the new year and beyond.Read More >>>

December, 2012

Advent: refugees – people without past and future(Rome) December 18, 2010 – During Advent, Jesuit Refugee Service International Director Fr. Peter Balleis, S.J. reflects upon the dire straits of refugees. "Refugees live at the crossroads between past and future. They just live in the here-and-now, often on the margins of society, at the borders of countries, in a ‘no man's land.'"
Read More >>>

December, 2012

Your generosity enables our service(Washington, D.C.) December 14, 2012 — When tragedy struck in Haiti in 2010, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA supporters responded swiftly and generously, contributing more than $1,890,000 to relief efforts. If there is a need, be it caused by natural disaster or violent conflict, JRS will be there, thanks to the generosity of our supporters.Read More >>>

December, 2012

In Memory: Angelo Lagu, JRS South Sudan(Nairobi) December 15, 2012 — It is with profound sadness that Jesuit Refugee Service Eastern Africa announces the sudden and tragic demise of our colleague Angelo Lagu, JRS South Sudan Country Director. Our friend died in a road accident on the evening of Thursday, December 6.Read More >>>

December, 2012

In Memory: Acacio Belandria S.J., human rights advocate(Bogota) December 15, 2012 — One man who believed in the absolute dignity of all human beings and blatantly fought against the discrimination of the most marginalized and excluded of Venezuela was Jesuit priest Acacio Belandria. Sadly, he passed away Dec. 10 in a car accident, leaving his parishioners and El Nula's people in deep sorrow.Read More >>>

December, 2012

Dialogue on Faith and Protection for refugees(Washington, D.C.) December 11, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service will participate in the United Nations High Commissioner's Dialogue on Protection Challenges, which begins Wednesday. The theme — Faith and Protection — highlights the important role local religious communities play in protecting asylum seekers, refugees and other persons of concern. Read More >>>

December, 2012

Governments must end the detention of children(Melbourne and Brussels) December 10, 2012 – On Human Rights Day today the International Detention Coalition, of which Jesuit Refugee Service is a member, urges governments to take steps to end detention of children and start employing humane community-based alternatives. Detention has a negative psychological and emotional impact on children, who typically do not pose a threat.Read More >>>

November, 2012

Seeking answers in death of teen at border(Washington, D.C.) November 29, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, the Jesuit Conference, the Kino Border Initiative and 30 additional organizations sent a letter to Customs and Border Protection requesting a meeting to discuss a pattern of deadly confrontations resulting in the deaths of at least 15 Mexican civilians — including two minors — along the border since 2010.Read More >>>

November, 2012

JRS invites you to celebrate the season of Advent(Washington, D.C.) November 28, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA invites you to celebrate Advent with us by taking part in our online spiritual retreat. First developed for our 30th anniversary in 2010, the retreat allows participants to reflect prayerfully on the ways in which we discover the presence of God in our ministry with refugees and displaced persons.Read More >>>

November, 2012

Families terrorized in Dem. Rep. of Congo(Goma) November 27, 2012 — Displaced families in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are daily suffering the effects of the violent attacks of numerous armed rebel groups in the area and are living in constant fear of the imminent arrival of the M23 rebels, who have already taken control of Goma in eastern Congo. Read More >>>

November, 2012

Hope through learning: higher education for refugees(Washington, D.C.) November 24, 2012 – Georgetown University President Dr. John DiGioia commemorated the 32nd anniversary of Jesuit Refugee Service this month by hosting a special panel discussion stressing the importance of refugee education and the partnership of JRS and Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins.Read More >>>

November, 2012

Dem. Rep. of Congo: tragedy unfolding in Goma(Bujumbura, Burundi) November 21, 2012 – Tens of thousands of women, children and men are currently fleeing areas around the North Kivu capital Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, ahead of a violent armed advance conducted by the M23 rebel group, which took control of the city yesterday.Read More >>>

November, 2012

President Obama: press refugee issues in Burma(Washington, D.C.) November 16, 2012 — Monday President Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to visit Burma. Ahead of his trip, Refugee Council USA, a coalition of U.S. non-governmental organizations including Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, delivered to the president a letter urging the issue of extremely vulnerable people, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and members of persecuted minorities including the Rohingya, Chin, and Kachin communities, be addressed.Read More >>>

November, 2012

Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice begins today(Washington, D.C.) November 16, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is one of more than 50 organizations at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice this weekend. Sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, the event brings together more than 1,000 students and others passionate about faith-inspired social justice to Washington, D.C.Read More >>>

November, 2012

Stop the forgotten conflict in the Dem. Rep. of Congo(North Kivu, DRC) November 14, 2012 — Since August, communities living in Masisi district in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been displaced on a daily basis and at least 18 have been murdered, caught between tit-for-tat attacks by opposing rebel groups. Unless the peacekeeping forces and the Congolese army urgently intervene to protect the civilian population, more innocent lives will be lost.Read More >>>

November, 2012

JRS at 32: Kindling hope through learning(Rome) November 14, 2012 – To mark the the thirty-second anniversary of the foundation of Jesuit Refugee Service, JRS International Director Fr. Peter Balleis, S.J. sent the following letter reflecting on the human, pedagogical and spiritual aspects of the JRS mission.Read More >>>

November, 2012

U.S. aid critical to combat humanitarian emergencies(Washington, D.C.) November 6, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA joined an InterAction coalition of 39 non-governmental organizations yesterday signing onto a letter to Congress in support of funding U.S. humanitarian assistance. Nearly 44 million people are currently displaced around the world due to conflict, the highest level in 15 years. Read More >>>

October, 2012

Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice returns to D.C.(Washington, D.C.) October 22, 2012— Jesuit Refugee Service/USA will be one of more than 50 organizations at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in November. Sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, the event brings together more than 1,000 students and others passionate about faith-inspired social justice to Washington, D.C., from November 16-18, 2012.Read More >>>

October, 2012

Jordan: refugees from Syria struggle to adjust(Amman) October 3, 2012 – While refugee children from Syria are allowed to enroll free of charge in public schools in Jordan, the atmosphere within the schools is not always ideal. Accounts from Syrian families in contact with Jesuit Refugee Service staff vary from complaints of discrimination to others who seem to have settled in. Read More >>>

September, 2012

Video: the crisis in Syria(Washington, D.C.) September 20, 2012 — The Ignatian News Network recently spoke with Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio, S.J., who was expelled from Syria earlier this year after having worked in the country for 30 years. Fr. Dall'Oglio and others in this video discuss the complexities of the crisis affecting the people of Syria.Read More >>>

September, 2012

Dem. Rep. of Congo: protect the rights of children(Kinshasa) September 19, 2012 – Jesuit Refugee Service and a coalition of NGOs urge the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take stronger actions to prevent the recruitment of children into armed groups. Under international law, the recruitment or use of children by armed forces or armed groups is unlawful and may constitute a war crime.Read More >>>

September, 2012

Syria: displaced families struggle to find shelter(Amman) September 14, 2012 — Despite support currently offered by Jesuit Refugee Service, the ability to provide adequate shelter in the coming months is unclear as the destruction of homes and basic infrastructure continues unabated. During the summer months authorities allowed tens of thousands of Syrians to take shelter in schools. Now, as schools open again, the question of what to do with displaced and homeless people is on everyone's minds.Read More >>>

September, 2012

NGOs urge governments to protect stateless people(Bangkok) September 10, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service and other humanitarian organizations are deeply concerned about stateless populations. Roughly 12 million people globally are deprived of rights to citizenship, access to education, health, and employment through statelessness. Read More >>>

August, 2012

Syria: JRS expands emergency support in Aleppo(Amman, Jordan) August 29, 2012 — Over the past three weeks, fighting has intensified in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. Despite the difficulty to access the city, Jesuit Refugee Service teams — in conjunction with volunteer networks of solidarity — have continued to provide emergency support to the many thousands of displaced families.Read More >>>

August, 2012

Thailand: funding shortfall leads to education gaps(Mae Hong Son, Thailand) August 27, 2012 — Funding shortages for the education of refugees along the Thai-Burma border may negatively affect preparedness for return. The focus of the international donor community is shifting from the camps towards inside Burma, and a lack of sufficient resources has forced organizations in the camps, such as Jesuit Refugee Service, to make cutbacks to critical programs.Read More >>>

August, 2012

World Humanitarian Day(Nairobi) August 17, 2012 — United Nations World Humanitarian Day is this Sunday, August 19. The day is a time to recognise those who face danger and adversity in order to help others. Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world, regardless of who they are and where they are. Read More >>>

August, 2012

Dem. Rep. of Congo: JRS schools provide hope(Kaputa, Zambia) August 7, 2012 — Funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration enabled Jesuit Refugee Service to build 14 schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo, thus furthering the education of up to five thousand students.Read More >>>

August, 2012

Update on JRS emergency response to Syria crisis(Amman, Jordan) August 6, 2012 — As the Syrian crisis enters its 17th month, Jesuit Refugee Service teams, in cooperation with civil society volunteer networks, have stepped up their emergency responses. Yet rising displacement, insecurity and food shortages are further complicating these emergency actions.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Jordan: rethinking the traditional university model(Amman) July 31, 2012 — As technology contributes to the rapid change taking place in the Arab world, Jesuit Refugee Service and Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins have used it to initiate an online Liberal Studies Diploma for urban refugees here in Jordan's capital.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Syria: JRS helping displaced families(Amman, Jordan) July 26, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service is reaching out to thousands of internally displaced Syrians by working in cooperation with local solidarity networks, well-developed Jesuit networks and existing JRS Syria projects. Doing so has enabled JRS to expand our services to some of the most vulnerable displaced Syrians in the country.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Rohingya of Myanmar face statelessness(Washington, D.C.) July 23, 2012 — The stateless Rohingya of Myanmar have suffered from extreme persecution and discrimination for decades. They are now facing another crisis. On June 3, inter-communal violence erupted, and this has evolved into large-scale state sponsored violence against the Rohingya. The Rohingya population needs urgent measures to be taken for their protection.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Women: advocates of community solidarity(Bujumbura, Burundi) July 19, 2012 – Since the end of the civil war in 2005, hundreds of thousands of refugees have returned home from exile in Tanzania. Excruciatingly high population density, poverty and ethnic tensions result in frequent out breaks in communal conflict. Enhancing the role of women and reducing food insecurity have long been strategy of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Burundi.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Jordan: offering education in an emergency (Amman) July 17, 2012 — As increasing numbers of Syrians arrive in Jordan fleeing the deterioration in security back home, the Jesuit Refugee Service has expanded its latest project, offering emergency education to children and adolescents.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Rohingya flee violence in Myanmar, Bangladesh turns them back(Washington, D.C.) July 13, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service and other civil society organizations are deeply concerned by on-going violence against stateless Rohingya people in Myanmar and their refoulement from Bangladesh. In Myanmar, what began as inter-communal violence has evolved into large-scale state sponsored violence against the Rohingya, while Bangladesh closed its border and pushed back many Rohingya fleeing the violence and persecution in Myanmar.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Family Separations Highlight Broken U.S. Immigration System(Washington, D.C.) July 11, 2012 — Last month, the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, of which Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is a member, held a congressional briefing on U.S. immigration policy and its effect on American families. The IIC is working to bring awareness to the simple yet controversial fact that our immigration system has separated numerous hard working families. Read More >>>

July, 2012

JRS joins campaign to stop rape and gender violence in conflict(Rome) July 5, 2012 – Last month Jesuit Refugee Service officially signed on as a member of the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict. Refugees and internally displaced persons suffer sexual- and gender based violence in their homes, while they flee and once they arrive in their host communities. Membership in the campaign offers enhanced opportunities for JRS to raise awareness of these crimes and promote political action.Read More >>>

July, 2012

Asia Pacific: research shows failings in protection(Bangkok) July 3, 2012 — 'The Search: Protection Space in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines and Cambodia in Practice' is a practical guide which will assist advocates in providing accurate information to asylum seekers and refugees about the realities of protection space within the region. Read More >>>

June, 2012

Video: united communities are stronger communities(Rome) June 26, 2012 — In the midst of economic crisis, the fragile value of hospitality ought to be nurtured. Shrinking economic opportunities are placing greater burden on overstretched social support networks, fueling intolerance. Dehumanization and hostility marginalize refugees even further.Read More >>>

June, 2012

South Sudan: Seeing life in a different light(Nimule, South Sudan) June 25, 2012 – At 19 years old, Loria views her life with a lot of hope. However when she first moved home after exile, this was not the case. Jesuit Refugee Service has helped her to see life in a different light. Despite recently losing her father, Loria showed strength of spirit and a positive attitude during her interview with JRS. She shares her story with us.Read More >>>

June, 2012

Updates from the Kino Border Initiative(Nogales, Arizona) June 22, 2012 — The Kino Border Initiative provides assistance to men, women and children who have been deported from the U.S. to Mexico. Deportees who are citizens of Mexico are often sent via bus to border crossings to walk back into Mexico. They generally have little or no money and only the clothes on their back.Read More >>>

June, 2012

World Refugee Day: an opportunity for world leaders(Rome) June 18, 2012 — Over the next two days, the leaders of the G20 nations will make difficult decisions regarding the stability of the global economy. On June 20, World Refugee Day, Jesuit Refugee Service urges world leaders to place social cohesion at the core of their decision-making process, and not lose sight of the needs of more than 45 million forcibly-displaced migrants worldwide.Read More >>>

June, 2012

Kenya: Storytelling for change(Kakuma, Kenya) June 15, 2012 — An enthusiastic and creative group of 33 refugees gathered at the Arrupe Learning Centre in Kakuma Refugee Camp last month to learn about communications and writing. Two workshops were organized to develop skills related to the written word as a means of helping those outside the camp to understand life there and relate to the journey and plight of refugees. Read More >>>

June, 2012

Reception & exhibition in honor of World Refugee Day(Washington, D.C.) June 12, 2012 — You are invited to join Jesuit Refugee Service/USA on Monday June 18 for a reception and photo exhibition in honor of World Refugee Day. The event will debut a collection of original images of JRS' work accompanying refugees and displaced people around the world.Read More >>>

June, 2012

UNHCR: refugees need opportunities for higher education(Denver) June 9, 2012 — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regional representative for the United States and Caribbean praised efforts so far but told attendees at the first international Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins Think Tank conducted at Regis University earlier this year that “we need to be better” when it comes to the refugee situation.Read More >>>

May, 2012

Dem. Rep. of Congo: food aid urgently needed(Goma) May 25, 2012 — When we met 38-year-old Faida Zahir, she was breastfeeding one-month-old Dorica. She was seated on a bench in a small Protestant church in Mugunga, a few kilometres from Goma, the capital of North Kivu. Dorica and her mother were one of the 500 families who have found refuge in the church and the primary school next door.Read More >>>

May, 2012

Brazil: Haitian migrants in Amazonia(Bogotá) May 17, 2012 — More than 350 Haitians, stranded for three months in the rural Brazilian border province of Tabatinga, began arriving last month in Manaus, the capital of Amazonia. The arrival in Manaus marked the end of a long and painful wait of more than three months in a secluded province in the heart of Amazonia.Read More >>>

May, 2012

Colombia: On Assignment in Soacha(Bogota) May 14, 2012 — Crossing the city limits of Bogota into the sprawling urban environment of Soacha, walking the neighborhoods of the bustling port city of Buenaventura, and traversing the Calima and San Juan Rivers shed light on the story of a Colombia still trapped in civil war where basic security continues to be a grave challenge.Read More >>>

May, 2012

Humanitarian emergency in the Dem. Rep. of Congo(Goma, Rome, Washington, D.C.) May 7, 2012 – "The international community must commit to ensuring this region becomes safe and finally free of the armed groups, interested only in its natural resources, who prevent innocent civilians from living in peace," said Jesuit Refugee Service Great Lakes Director Fr Tony Calleja S.J.Read More >>>

May, 2012

Kenya: We are our brother’s keeper (Nairobi) May 7, 2012 – It is always possible to find a beam of hope even when life seems too hard to bear. This is the message I heard from a group of urban refugees who reside in Kitengela, Nairobi. The group members express their compassion for each other by meeting every two weeks for prayers and moral support. They embody the concept of being ‘their brother’s keepers.’Read More >>>

April, 2012

President Obama urged to join Mine Ban Treaty(Washington, D.C.) April 19, 2012 — Leaders from 76 nongovernmental organizations including Jesuit Refugee Service/USA delivered a letter to President Obama urging the U.S. to relinquish antipersonnel landmines and join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty without further delay.Read More >>>

April, 2012

Finding purpose by serving refugees(Denver) April 17, 2012 — Clotilde Giner oversees a staff of 14 at Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, handling logistical issues and providing support for Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins teaching teams who seek to bring Jesuit higher education and a better life to the camp which is home to 16,000 refugees. Read More >>>

April, 2012

Video: School educates youth, lifts community in Haiti(Fond Parisien, Haiti) April 9, 2012 — "Many of these children would have no access to education without this project. The schools that do exist are too expensive. At the state level, there is no such thing as preschool. Preschools only exist thanks to organizations and foundations," said Sr. Camilla de Jesus, a member of the school's director office.Read More >>>

April, 2012

Lend your leg to ban landmines(Phnom Penh) April 3, 2012 — The idea is to end the destruction caused by landmines within our lifetime. How? By lending a leg, of course. Around the world, people are joining together in solidarity to take a stand, to step forward and to ‘Lend a Leg for a mine free world,' through the simple gesture of rolling up their pants leg. Read More >>>

March, 2012

Global approach to urban refugee issues(Bangkok) March 31, 2012 — To Berlin, Bogotá, Bangkok. UN statistics show that most refugees around the world are going to cities. But do they all face similar obstacles in their new host cities? Are there common approaches Jesuit Refugee Service can take to serve refugees living in urban areas? At a recent meeting, JRS staff from more than 25 countries gave a qualified yes to these questions.Read More >>>

March, 2012

Higher Education at the Margins charts future course(Denver) March 13, 2012 — The firstJesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins Think Tank at Regis University came to a conclusion March 8 with a final round of spirited discussions, poignant presentations and the promise of recommendations that will guide the organization’s future in bring Jesuit higher education to those at the margins of our society.Read More >>>

March, 2012

Asia Pacific: five wishes on International Women's Day(Bangkok) March 8, 2012 — Women live in vulnerable situations throughout the region from border camps to urban apartment blocks. Over the past year, Jesuit Refugee Service has been collecting testimonies of women in the Asia Pacific. In commemoration of International Women’s Day, please share in their hopes for their futures and their families.Read More >>>

February, 2012

Thailand: refugees use photography to share their lives(Bangkok) February 7, 2012 — Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific recently ran an urban refugee photo project in Bangkok called 'See What I See.' The project enabled the refugees themselves to share their stories through photography. A one-day photography training session was followed by two months of photography, culminating in a gallery exhibition.Read More >>>

January, 2012

Philippines: appeal for assistance for flood victims(Mindanao) January 19, 2012 – Just days before Christmas, more than 100,000 families' holiday season and hopes for the new year were washed away with the flash flood that struck the northern coast of Mindanao, Philippines. A month later, tropical storm Washi has left the country devastated.Read More >>>

January, 2012

New Year’s Message from Jesuit Refugee Service/USA(Washington, D.C.) January 1, 2012 — The year 2011 was a momentous one for refugees, internally displaced people and migrants. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA National Director Fr. Michael A. Evans, S.J., reflects back on 2011 while looking forward to 2012.Read More >>>

Europe: EU states need not detain migrants(Brussels) December 22, 2011 — Detaining migrants is unnecessary because more humane non-custodial alternatives exist, according to the latest Jesuit Refugee Service report, From Deprivation to Liberty. JRS Europe launched their new report the European Union Parliament, at an event which included members of the parliament and representatives from the Belgian Migration Office and NGOs.Read More >>>

December, 2011

Report highlights systemic hindering of refugees(Rome) December 8, 2011 — In a new report, JRS finds ample evidence that European governments actively hinder refugee arrivals. These deplorable practices are not limited to Europe; they are rapidly becoming the norm throughout Asia and Africa. The U.S. and Caribbean nations regularly restrict access to asylum processes for people with possible protection needs.Read More >>>

December, 2011

JRS/USA 2011 Annual Report(Washington, D.C.) December 5, 2011 — The 2011 Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Annual Report is now available online. For the first time, the report includes active links leading to more information online.Read More >>>

Landmine survivor advocates for change(Geneva) November 23, 2011 — With just days to go until the 11th Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines interviewed Song Kosal, from the Cambodian Campaign to Ban Landmines. Here Kosal speaks about her experience after a landmine accident and the need to spread the word about landmines.Read More >>>

November, 2011

Cambodia: campaigning to ban landmines(Geneva) November 21, 2011 — The International Campaign to Ban Landmines recently interviewed Sister Denise Coghlan, Director of Jesuit Refugee Service — Cambodia and member of the Cambodian Campaign to Ban Landmines. Sister Denise has been based in Cambodia and involved in the landmine issue and the campaign for more than 20 years. Read More >>>

November, 2011

Dallas Jesuit College Prep helps area refugees(Washington, D.C.) November 16, 2011 — Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas student volunteers from the American/African Outreach Society held two events recently with and for refugees both in the Dallas area and in Kenya. A soccer tournament which raised funds for Kakuma refugee camp followed a Halloween evening with local refugee children. Read More >>>

Video: Curtain rises at Jesuit High Sacramento(Sacramento) November 3, 2011 — The curtain rises tonight on Sacramento Jesuit High School's production Imago Dei: Journeys of Courage, Hope & Home. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA hopes the play will allow audiences to 'stand in the shoes' of forcibly displaced people and refugees to gain a deeper understanding of what life is like for them.Read More >>>

October, 2011

JHS Sacramento drama about refugees opens this week(Washington, D.C.) October 31, 2011 — On Thursday Jesuit High School of Sacramento premiers Imago Dei: Journeys of Courage, Hope & Home, about experiences of refugees and the forcibly displaced and based on Jesuit Refugee Service's 30 years of accompaniment, service and advocacy on behalf of refugees. Read More >>>

October, 2011

JHS Sacramento producing play about refugees(Washington, D.C.) October 21, 2011 — Students at Jesuit High School of Sacramento have written and will perform a play, Imago Dei: Journeys of Courage, Hope & Home, highlighting the real life experiences of refugees and the forcibly displaced based on Jesuit Refugee Service's 30 years of accompaniment, service and advocacy on behalf of refugees. Read More >>>

October, 2011

Eastern Africa: technology aids isolated refugees(Oxford, England) October 20, 2011 — Taking advantage of new computer technologies and improved internet connectivity across Africa, the Jesuit Refugee Service’s initiative Jesuit Commons-Higher Education at the Margins has piloted access to tertiary education in refugee settings, linking university teachers in the U.S. with students in refugee camps in Kenya and Malawi.Read More >>>

September, 2011

Dallas Jesuit College Prep takes action for refugees(Washington, D.C.) September 20, 2011 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Action Teams are groups of anywhere from three to 100 members that rally around their common concern for refugee and forcibly displaced persons, and their drive to effect positive social change in their local and global neighborhoods. Read More >>>

July, 2011

JRS assisting refugees from Somalia(Nairobi, Rome, Washington, D.C.) July 26, 2011 — In the midst of one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent times affecting the Horn of Africa, Jesuit Refugee Service has announced plans to step up ongoing work for Somalis in Ethiopia and Kenya, and establish new services in the former.Read More >>>

July, 2011

Refugee Protection bill aims to improve immigration and refugee law(Washington, D.C.) July 5, 2011 — The newly introduced Refugee Protection Act of 2011 makes overdue changes to the Refugee Act of 1980 and U.S. immigration law. JRS/USA has a particular interest in the bill because of our experience offering pastoral care and religious services to immigration detainees. One aspect of the legislation is that facilities detaining immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers provide full and equitable access to religious services to the detainees. Read More >>>

June, 2011

Nutrition, early education provide head start in Chad(Goz Beida, Chad) June 28, 2011 — Promoting access to preschool for internally displaced children was the goal when Jesuit Refugee Service started an education project here in eastern Chad in September 2008. JRS manages the preschool project at six sites in this arid region, which directly benefits more than 1700 children who attend the schools. Read More >>>

June, 2011

Europe: refugee protection — illusion or reality(Brussels) June 22, 2011 — Since the beginning of the "Arab Spring" and most notably the armed conflict in Libya in mid-February 2011, ten of thousands of persons have tried to escape the escalating violence in North Africa and find protection in Europe. They have often failed. Almost every week, we receive news about a boat carrying refugees having foundered and its occupants drowned.Read More >>>

Survivors call for U.S. to ban landmines(Yogyakarta, Indonesia) June 21, 2011 — What are landmines: explosives put into the ground waiting years and decades to indiscriminately take the limbs or life of whoever walks over it, be they a soldier, farmer, woman or child. One step in a contaminated area can trigger the explosion and change lives forever.Read More >>>

UN Refugee Convention: 60 years of protection(Washington, D.C. and Rome) June 17, 2011 — In response to the horrors of World War II, 60 years ago the UN family of nations took the first concrete steps in the construction of a global system of refugee protection. That first step is commemorated Monday, June 20, with World Refugee Day.Read More >>>

June, 2011

Seattle U honors JRS anti-landmine activist(Phnom Penh) June 16, 2011 — Tun Channareth works in the northern province of Siem Reap and is himself a landmine survivor. He lost both legs when a landmine exploded in his native Cambodia in 1982. Since then, he has worked tirelessly in the struggle against landmines and cluster bombs which still plague former war-torn countries.Read More >>>

June, 2011

Helping former child soldiers return to normal in Chad(Abeche, Chad) June 2, 2011 — In this hot and dusty town in eastern Chad, Jesuit Refugee Service lives its mission of accompaniment by working with former child soldiers to help them return to a normal life after several years of conflict. The program also seeks to prevent any new recruitment of children into fighting units.Read More >>>

May, 2011

Refugees inspired by soccer in Ethiopia(Addis Ababa) May 21, 2011 – Although the Jesuit Refugee Service Community Center refugee football team lost the match against university students here recently, they left with a greater understanding of their host society and a desire to further their education.Read More >>>

May, 2011

JHS Dallas students help refugees(Washington, D.C.) May 11, 2011 — At Jesuit High School in Dallas, freshmen Brocke Stepteau and Justin Rotich are gearing up to spread the word about refugee issues and support JRS’ mission to accompany, serve, and defend refugees worldwide. Last week the students launched the American/African Outreach Society), an official JRS Action Team, on their school’s campus. Read More >>>

April, 2011

Marathon effort raises thousands to support refugees(Washington, D.C) April 25, 2011 — Boston runner John McLaughlin raised almost $6,500 for Jesuit Refugee Service/USA by asking people to donate "a dollar a mile" during his Boston Marathon run on April 18. This is the second time Mr. McLaughlin has run for refugee relief, and JRS/USA is grateful to him and the more than 170 people who donated in his name.Read More >>>

April, 2011

Catholic University students take action for Sudan(Washington, D.C.) April 21, 2011 — Inspired by JRS peacebuilding efforts in Southern Sudan, the CUA/JRS Action Team committed to promote awareness of the challenges facing the future country of Southern Sudan and advocate for the U.S. to maintain a strong humanitarian presence in the country.Read More >>>

JRS urges U.S. to stop deporting Haitians(Washington, D.C) April 15, 2011 — Today the U.S. Department of Homeland Security again deported Haitians from the United States to Haiti, a nation still reeling from the fall-out of a devastating earthquake, endemic cholera, and unable to provide basic necessities for hundreds of thousands of its citizens. Read More >>>

April, 2011

Dominican Republic forcibly repatriates Haitians(Santiago, Dominican Republic) April 15, 2011 — Dominican Republic authorities carried out raids, detentions and repatriations of Haitians and persons of Haitian descent during the last week, citing the need to bow to the demands of citizen groups who had demanded the removal of the Haitians. Read More >>>

Regional response needed for Haitian migrants (Quito) April 14, 2011 — JRS has issued an appeal urging states in the region to protect Haitian victims of smuggling and trafficking networks in Latin America. In 2009, there were approximately 75,000 Haitians living in South America; but since then this number has increased significantly, particularly in Ecuador and Chile.Read More >>>

Take Action: Support Peace in Colombia(Washington, D.C.) April 7, 2011 — Colombia continues to endure the largest and most protracted humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere, and is home to one of the largest displaced populations in the world. We invite you to join in this work as we call upon our government to promote policies in Colombia that support Colombian refugees and IDPs and other victims of violence, protect human rights defenders and Church and community leader working for peace in Colombia, and contribute to safe, secure and durable land restitution policies.Read More >>>

April, 2011

Pioneering a new approach to higher ed in Kenya(Nairobi) April 6, 2011 — The Jesuit Commons — Higher Education at the Margins project offers a dynamic and flexible model of education to refugees, promoting education as a fundamental human right in the most rugged circumstances. In northern Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp, at least 100 refugees are expected to participate in the new program during the first year.Read More >>>

April, 2011

Bostonian is running marathon for refugees(Washington, D.C.) April 4, 2011 — John McLaughlin, an employee of Boston College and a parishioner at St. Ignatius Church in Newton, Mass., is running in this year's Boston Marathon to help the work of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA. This marks the second time Mr. McLaughlin has run for refugees.Read More >>>

NGOs urge Senate to maintain humanitarian funding(Washington, D.C.) March 29, 2011 — Thirty-nine non-governmental organizations, including Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Mercy Corps, World Vision, Save the Children, Lutheran World Relief, the International Rescue Committee, The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and Amnesty International USA, wrote the U.S. Senate urging them to fund humanitarian programs at current levels.Read More >>>

March, 2011

Report highlights Colombian refugee crisis(Washington, D.C.) March 25, 2011 — The Migration Policy Institute and Refugee Council USA (a coalition of NGOs including Jesuit Refugee Service/USA) hosted an event March 23, 2011 in Washington, D.C. hosted an event to launch a report by Refugee Council USA on the situation of Colombian refugees in Ecuador and Panama. Two of the speakers were part of the November 2010 RCUSA trip to the region that examined the complex protection and resettlement needs of Colombian refugees. Read More >>>

March, 2011

Get Involved: National Days of Action for Colombia(Washington, D.C.) March 21, 2011 — This April, thousands of people are coming together to advocate for peace and justice in Colombia and take action through the Days of Action for Colombia. Join us as we call on our government to promote policies towards Colombia that support Colombian refugees and IDPs and other victims of violence, protects those working for peace in Colombia, and contributes to fair and durable land restitution policies. Read More >>>

March, 2011

Catholic University launches JRS/USA Action Team(Washington, D.C.) March 18, 2011 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is pleased to begin working with the first JRS/USA Action Team, a group of talented, hardworking students at Catholic University of America. These students have committed to raising awareness, fundraising, and advocating for the newly formed nation of Southern Sudan in conjunction with JRS/USA.Read More >>>

March, 2011

Distance education project launched in Kenya(Nairobi, Kenya) March 15, 2011 — Refugees in Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya now have access to higher education following the launch by Jesuit Refugee Service of a new distance-education project with U.S. universities. The Jesuit Commons — Higher Education at the Margins project offers a dynamic and flexible model of education to refugees, promoting education as a fundamental human right in the most rugged circumstances.Read More >>>

March, 2011

Stop deportations to Haiti(Washington, D.C) March 14, 2011 — Members of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, including Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, wrote to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office urging them to suspend deportations to Haiti until conditions on the ground improve considerably. Read More >>>

March, 2011

Colombian Refugees in Ecuador and Panama(Washington, D.C.) March 10, 2011 — Arguably one of the most persistent — and neglected — humanitarian crises in the Western Hemisphere, Colombia's ongoing conflict has resulted in the targeted persecution and displacement of more than four million Colombians in the last two decades. Learn more March 23rd during an event at the Migration Policy Institute here.Read More >>>

Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia(Washington, D.C.) March 6, 2011 — With nearly five million internally displaced people, Colombia is home to the Western Hemisphere’s greatest displacement crisis, and more are losing their homes every day. Join us as we call on our government to promote policies towards Colombia that support Colombian refugees and IDPs and other victims of violence, protects those working for peace in Colombia, and contributes to fair and durable land restitution policies. Read More >>>

March, 2011

Take Action: Support Life-Saving Aid to Refugees(Washington, D.C.) March 2, 2011 — Humanitarian programs supported by the U.S. government serve as lifelines for refugees and forcibly displaced persons around the world. They provide critical food aid and shelter for desperate people fleeing the terror of war and persecution in countries such as Colombia, Burma, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Read More >>>

Outreach program educates students about asylum, immigration(Washington, D.C.) Feb 23, 2011 — "Wait! I don’t get it!" the young woman towards the back of the classroom exclaimed. "Why don’t people like immigrants? Why are people being treated like this? It’s not fair!" I had just finished explaining to the class of juniors at Cristo Rey High School in New York City how asylum seekers are treated when they come to the U.S. in search of refuge, but lack the papers to enter properly.Read More >>>

February, 2011

Humanitarian aid cuts could cost lives(Washington, D.C.) February 23, 2011 — Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and other organizations have sent a letter to the Leadership of the U.S House of Representatives regarding the deep cuts to humanitarian assistance in recent budget proposals. It is shocking to imagine that in the next major global humanitarian crisis – the next Haiti, tsunami, or Darfur – the United States might simply fail to show up. Yet that is the very real risk posed by H.R. 1.Read More >>>

February, 2011

Briefing on U.S. Migration Policy Toward Haiti(Washington, D.C.) February 22, 2011 — In a briefing this Thursday on Capitol Hill, experts from Catholic organizations who serve Haitians both in the United States and Haiti will outline the Administration’s current migration policy toward Haitians, discuss current conditions on the ground in Haiti, and identify the immediate migration-related policy steps the U.S. Catholic Church believes the Administration is morally obliged to take to alleviate, and not further deepen, the crisis in Haiti.
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Southern Sudan: A New Nation(Juba, Southern Sudan) February 8, 2011 — The people of Southern Sudan have overwhelmingly voted for independence according to the final referendum results announced on Monday in Khartoum. The results show that 98.83 percent voted for secession, which will open the door to Africa’s newest state with formal independence scheduled for July 9, 2011. Read More >>>

Southern Sudan: Training in income generation(Nimule,Southern Sudan) – Skills of peace club members in income generation and sustainable development are expected to improve after Jesuit Refugee Service trained more than 100 Sudanese on fund raising, management and saving in areas around Nimule, Southern Sudan.Read More >>>

January, 2011

Join Us in Urging the U.S. to Halt Deportations to Haiti(Washington, D.C.) January 21, 2011 – Yesterday the Department of Homeland security resumed deporting Haitians from the U.S. back to their troubled country. Haiti is in a severe crisis. More than one million people are without housing, incidences of rape and domestic violence are on the rise, and political violence has escalated. Exacerbating the instability of the current situation is a cholera epidemic that has claimed over 3000 lives and is expected to kill thousands more.Read More >>>

January, 2011

Haiti: An anniversary in pain(Port au Prince) January 12, 2011 – One year ago a massive earthquake devastated Haiti, claiming the lives of more than 300,000 people. Today, Haitians mark the first anniversary of the tragedy in pain, caused not only by the sad memory of the victims of the tragedy, but also by the slow pace of recovery and the acute political crisis facing the country.Read More >>>

January, 2011

Dominican Republic: Mass deportations of Haitians must stop(Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) January 12, 2011 – Jesuit Refugee Service – Dominican Republic decries the mass deportations carried out in various parts of the Dominican Republic by the Directorate General of Immigration on the grounds that the deportations will prevent cholera. "We understand these actions to be not only ineffective in preventing the progression of the epidemic, but we also recognize that the mass expulsions undermine the rule of law, resulting in the violation of human rights of these Haitian migrants, promoting racial profiling of both the Haitian migrant population and of Dominicans of Haitian descent," JRS – Dominican Republic said in a statement.Read More >>>

January, 2011

Deporting Haitians into Peril: a Disturbing Policy(Washington, D.C.) Jan. 7, 2011 – The recent decision by the U.S. government to resume the deportation of Haitians is wrong, and will put lives at risk while creating an additional problem for the maintenance of public order in beleaguered Haiti. Haiti is still struggling to recover from last January's earthquake, is in the midst of a cholera epidemic and is also embroiled in controversy over the recent presidential elections there.Read More >>>

January, 2011

Take Action: Jesuit Immigration Sign-On Letter(Washington, D.C.) January 3, 2011 – The Society of Jesus’ work and ministry with immigrants and migrants in the United States has made us painfully aware that many in this community still labor in the shadows. This past June the provincials took the bold step of sending a letter to the president and to each member of Congress asking them to enact comprehensive immigration reform. In order for such reform to be enacted, there needs to be a national demonstration of support. Read More >>>

December, 2010

Southern Sudan: Archbishop’s visit supports peaceful referendum(Yei, Southern Sudan) December 21, 2010 — German Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender visited this city to show solidarity with the autonomous region in promoting the 101 Days of Prayer campaign for a peaceful referendum, which will take place on January 9, 2011. Archbishop Ender’s visit on December 8 was symbolic to the people of Sudan, who repeatedly spoke of his coming as a sign that they have the support of the church in their struggle for independence. Read More >>>

December, 2010

Cambodia: What happened to the Uighur asylum-seekers?(Bangkok) December 17, 2010 – As the one-year anniversary approaches, Jesuit Refugee Service remembers the Uighur asylum seekers who sought shelter in Cambodia. We came to know them well, and again we ask the question: what happened to them? What happened to the pregnant mother and her two children? What happened to the man who had already escaped years of torture at the hands of the Chinese authorities? What happened to each individual who was trying to start a new life in a safe country?Read More >>>

Kenya: Distance-learning program provides hope(Kakuma, Kenya) — Every day Bol, a 26-year old paraplegic man, pedals his hand-powered tricycle an hour each way from his home through Kakuma refugee camp to attend the first introductory training sessions for the new Jesuit Commons Higher Education at the Margins distance-learning accredited university courses.Read More >>>

December, 2010

Boat people have no 'option but to flee for their lives'(Sydney, Australia) December 6, 2010 – The Director of Jesuit Refugee Service International, Fr. Peter Balleis S.J, called on Australia to live up to its reputation as a tolerant and multi-cultural nation by showing compassion to boat people, who are ‘the most desperate and poor of all refugees’ during an event in Sydney.Read More >>>

December, 2010

Landmine Ban Makes Gains, But Serious Concerns Remain(Geneva) December 3, 2010 – Dozens of countries reported impressive progress in banning antipersonnel mines, clearing mined areas, and assisting victims of the weapon during a week-long meeting of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines said. But four countries remained in violation of the treaty for missing their stockpile destruction deadline, and six countries needed extensions of their clearance deadlines.Read More >>>

November, 2010

Support the DREAM Act(Washington, D.C.) November 27, 2010 – The DREAM Act has always had strong bipartisan support, and the U.S. Catholic bishops have been long standing supporters of the legislation. Archbishop Jose Gomez, co-adjutor archbishop of Los Angeles and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, recently reaffirmed USCCB support for the legislation, stating that passage of the bill was "the right thing to do."Read More >>>

November, 2010

Mine Ban Treaty: By the NumbersLast year the Obama administration announced that it was conducting a comprehensive review of its landmine policy, including whether the United States should join the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, also known as the Mine Ban Treaty. States-parties will meet next week, Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, in Geneva to review the treaty.Read More >>>

November, 2010

Landmine kills 14 in Cambodia(Washington, D.C.) November 18, 2010 – “This is a horrific accident,” says Sister Denise Coghlan, country Director of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Cambodia, and a founding member of the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines. She says it happened “just at the time when we were hoping the accidents and casualties were going down.”Read More >>>

November, 2010

Thailand: JRS responds to the influx of people fleeing violence in Burma(Bangkok) November 11, 2010 – An estimated 20,000 people have fled to Thailand since conflict broke out between government forces and the fifth brigade of the ethnic Karen rebel group, the DKBA. Fighting began November 8 in the southeastern border town of Myawaddy, less than a day after election polls opened in the military controlled region.Read More >>>

November, 2010

Faith groups urge Obama to protect the rights of migrantsMigrants in our region are experiencing a human rights crisis, particularly those who journey northward through Mexico en route to the United States. In August, 72 migrants from Central and South America were found massacred in northern Mexico. Faith, labor, and human rights groups – including Jesuit Refugee Service/USA – have joined together to urge President Obama to take responsibility in setting a global standard for sound policies to protect the rights of migrants.Read More >>>

November, 2010

JRS commemorates 30 years of putting refugees first(Washington, D.C.) – As we mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of Jesuit Refugee Service by Fr. General Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the reality of our modern world is quite sobering. There are tens of millions more refugees, internally displaced people, and asylum seekers today than there were in 1980. Read More >>>

November, 2010

Floods, cholera continue to disrupt Haitian rebuilding(Port au Prince, Haiti) November 9, 2010 – The Jesuit Refugee Service facility in Ounaminthe, which ordinarily can house up to 50 people, brought in 50 additional mattresses to attempt to serve the more than 150 people a day who sought shelter. Additionally, JRS teams are providing food and first aid to those in need, especially women and infants.Read More >>>

November, 2010

JRS Australia opens home for refugees(Sydney, Australia) November 9, 2010 – For the first time ever, Jesuit Refugee Service Australia will be able to accommodate entire refugee families after opening its latest shelter, a former boarding house in the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly. Read More >>>

November, 2010

Video: Detention Chaplaincy(Washington, D.C.) November 3, 2010 – Jesuit Refugee Service/USA promotes courage, hope and peace for detainees in the ups and downs and day-to-day routines of their lives inside a detention facility. In addition to pastoral counseling, chaplains facilitate religious activities that include opportunities for worship, prayer, scripture services, and fellowship within the traditions of each person’s faith. JRS/USA’s chaplains and pastoral care workers give support to those who find themselves suffering and in crisis. Read More >>>

November, 2010

Haiti moves from emergency to emergency(Port au Prince, Haiti) Nov. 2, 2010 – As of last Wednesday, the Haitian health ministry has confirmed 4,649 hospitalizations and 305 deaths due to cholera, with cases having been confirmed in three of the country’s 10 departments – Artibonite, Central and North.Read More >>>

October, 2010

New obstacles in Haiti(Port au Prince) Oct. 26, 2010 – A month before elections for a new president and legislature scheduled for Haiti on November 28, an epidemic of cholera has again focused world attention on Haiti. The disease has killed more than 259 people and sickened another 3300, according to health authorities. Meanwhile, a fault line remains an important seismic hazard for Haiti, say experts.Read More >>>

October, 2010

Sudan: Teachers updated on new curriculumParticipants were told how the implementation of the curriculum depended on their relationships with the key actors involved in the process: students, teachers, parents, school management (parent-teacher associations), communities, and local and central government officials.Read More >>>

October, 2010

The Society of Jesus and Migration(Quito, Ecuador) October 11, 2010 – The challenges posed by migration are an apostolic priority for the universal body of the Society of Jesus. Since this phenomenon is increasingly globalized, it requires a response that is also networked at the worldwide level.Read More >>>

October, 2010

Video: Building schools in Southern Sudan(Washington, D.C.) October 10, 2010 – Jesuit Refugee Service has assisted returnees by building schools, supporting teacher training, providing school supplies, encouraging the education of girls, and building the capacity of local communities to take charge of their own educational needs. Read More >>>

October, 2010

Official highlights U.S. efforts on behalf of refugees(Geneva, Switzerland) October 4, 2010 – Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) Eric P. Schwartz delivered the U.S. government’s plenary statement Monday, October 4, 2010, at the 61st session of the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA has used grants from PRM to build and equip schools and train teachers in Southern Sudan. Read More >>>

October, 2010

Welcome to Our New Website(Washington, D.C.) Oct. 1, 2010 – After nearly 12 months of planning and work, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is happy to announce the launch of our new website.This new website is designed to present information in a clear way with easy navigation, while highlighting the accompaniment, service and advocacy JRS undertakes worldwide with and on behalf of refugees and forcibly displaced people.Read More >>>

September, 2010

Powerful storm strikes Haiti(Port-au-Prince, Haiti) September 26, 2010 – A powerful tropical storm battered the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on September 24, destroying and damaging many of the tents inhabited by the 1.2 million people displaced by the January earthquake who have lived in ad-hoc camps for the last nine months. The Jesuit Refugee Service team responded immediately, deploying our limited resources to address the most urgent needs. Read More >>>

September, 2010

South Africa take positive steps for Zimbabwe refugeesJesuit Refugee Service has given a cautious welcome to the introduction of new regulations affecting Zimbabweans in South Africa. The new regulations stipulate that Zimbabweans, present in the country before 31 May 2010, may be eligible for a four-year work, business or study permit, if they are in possession of a current Zimbabwean passport and meet other qualifying criteria.Read More >>>

September, 2010

South Africa moves to end 'Special Dispensation' for Zimbabwe refugeesJesuit Refugee Service notes that the Cabinet of South Africa has moved to end the Special Dispensation for Zimbabwean Nationals that was introduced in April 2009. The Special Dispensation allowed Zimbabweans crossing into South Africa the right to live, work, attend education facilities and access basic health care for a period of six months. Read More >>>

September, 2010

Peace week in ColombiaNext week the Catholic Church in Colombia is celebrating Peace Week in honor of the thousands of victims of the Colombian conflict. The theme of the week is 'Integral Reparation: because no victim is a stranger.' The aim of the annual Peace Week campaign is to raise awareness in Colombian society for the plight of the victims of the armed conflict and to promote solidarity and a comprehensive reparation plan for them.Read More >>>

September, 2010

Haitians deported by Dominican RepublicMore than fifty people were repatriated to Haiti from Dominican Republic to Haiti on Wednesday in an operation carried out in the city of Jimaní, on the Haitian – Dominican Republic border. Representatives of Jesuit Refugee Service in Jimaní tried to interview the detained Haitians but they were deported before JRS was able to speak to them.Read More >>>

August, 2010

World Humanitarian Day 2010The United Nations has designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day to honor all humanitarian aid workers, United Nations and associated people who have lost their lives in the cause of duty, and those who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause. Humanitarian aid workers strive to ensure that all those who have experienced a traumatic event and need life-saving assistance receive it, regardless of where they are in the world, and regardless of their religious or social group or nationality. These workers should be respected and helped, not targeted.Read More >>>

August, 2010

Southern Sudan at a CrossroadsIn January, Southern Sudan will hold a referendum to choose independence from or unity with the north. The conduct, result, and aftermath of the vote will determine the direction of Southern Sudan's future and the prospects for sustained peace in the region. During this uncertain period, JRS continues to accompany the people of Southern Sudan with programs that make schools the heart of new and restored communities, as focal points for hope for a better future and centers for peace building activities.Read More >>>

June, 2010

On Assignment in BurundiJRS projects in the forgotten backcountry of Burundi aim at responding to the all-important larger issue of ensuring lasting food security for returning refugees. Father Tony Calleja, S.J., the Regional Director of JRS Great Lakes, has had long experience with Burundian refugees, having spent years working with them in Tanzanian camps. He poignantly described the plight of these returnees: “When they come back, it is a joyful occasion. But they come back with nothing. They have nothing.” Read More >>>

June, 2010

Haitian Jesuits plan for future, urge that local voices be heardJesuits in Haiti, under the leadership of Fr. Kawas Francois, S.J. have organized a Reflection and Action Unit (see official statement below) to help plan for the long-term rebuilding of Haiti while ensuring that the voices of the Haitian people are involved in that planning. Concerns have been raised on the ground in Haiti that too much of the planning leadership has been from concerned foreigners, and not enough from the people of Haiti and their leaders in civil society.Read More >>>

June, 2010

Jesuit Father General visits HaitiFather General Adolfo Nicolas, S.J. visited the Haitian capital Thursday to see the work Jesuits have been doing to as they accompany and serve the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating January 12 earthquake.Read More >>>

June, 2010

Faith and Joy in HaitiVideo: Fr. Dorino Gabriel, S.J. talks about the work of Faith and Joy in helping to rebuild and revitalize Haiti. Through the Jesuit Fe y Alegria school system Haitian Jesuits are working to promote universal education in Haiti, a key necessity in helping to build a resilient and sustainable Haitian-led recovery.Read More >>>

Jesuit Superior meets JRS staff after recent visit to Sri Lanka(ROME) March 11, 2010 - Fr. Adolfo Nicolas S.J., Father General of the Society of Jesus, visited the Province of Sri Lanka last month. While visiting the region of Colombo-Galle, Father Nicolás stressed several themes particularly dear to him: depth of commitment, creativity and life in the Spirit, and inserting these into the specific reality of Jesuits in Sri Lanka today.Read More >>>

March, 2010

Missing UN-African Union soldiers make safe return thanks to DarfuriansTwo peacekeepers who were missing after an attack on an African Union-United Nations patrol in Darfur have made a safe return with the assistance of the local population, the joint mission reported yesterday. They were found suffering from dehydration but were listed as in stable condition after receiving appropriate medical attention, according to a news release issued by the mission, known as UNAMID.Read More >>>

February, 2010

JRS plans for long-term Haitian relief(Washington, D.C.) February 20, 2010 – In the days following the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, Jesuit Refugee Service was able to provide emergency food relief to about 50,000 people, while JRS-affiliated medical teams treated about 4,500 people who were injured in the quake or became ill in the aftermath.Read More >>>

February, 2010

Cluster Bomb Ban treaty to take effect(Washington, D.C.) Feb. 18, 2010 – The United Nations–backed convention banning the use of cluster munitions will enter into force in August after the 30th country ratified the pact Tuesday, a move that was immediately welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as “a major advance on the global disarmament agenda.”
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Rebuilding of Haiti must be inclusive and decentralized(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Feb. 11, 2010 – "Haiti demands a reconstruction rooted in decentralization, diversification and specialization," said Fr. Regino Martinez, S.J. on Tuesday. Fr. Martinez, the Director of Solidaridad Fronteriza in the border town of Dajabon in the Dominican Republic, has been leading a relief effort in Ouanaminte and Cap Haitien and other towns.
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February, 2010

Immigration Reform is a matter of Faith and Family(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Feb. 11, 2010 – In an unprecedented show of religious support for just, humane, comprehensive immigration reform, religious leaders from across the theological and ideological spectrum and Members of Congress kicked off a nationwide mobilization for immigration reform Wednesday on a conference call with reporters.
Read More >>>

February, 2010

Haiti: relief efforts look to futureBy Fr. Kenneth J. Gavin, S.J.
National Director of JRS/USA
(Port-au-Prince, Haiti) Feb. 5, 2010 – We arrived in Port-au-Prince Wednesday afternoon, traveling by car from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic through Baharona, where Jesuit Refugee & Migrant Service has a warehouse for food and supplies. Trucks leave for Haiti daily, crossing the border at Jimani and then on to one of the 12 distribution centers staffed by Jesuit teams.Read More >>>

February, 2010

Georgetown University Forum on Haiti(Washington, D.C.) Feb. 4, 2010 - Shaina Aber, Associate Advocacy Director for Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, was a panelist at Georgetown University's Forum on Haiti: From Relief to Recovery on Jan. 28. Panelists discussed the current crisis in Haiti, including relief and recovery efforts going forward and the role of the international community in providing aid and assistance. Representatives of the University, the World Food Progamme, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization also took part.Read More >>>

Haitians demonstrate solidarity in wake of disaster(Washington, D.C.) Jan. 28, 2010 – The United Nations says that the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 has killed at least 112,000 people, and injured 194,000. Other estimates suggest that 200,000 people were killed, and an accurate number may never be known. More than one million Haitians are now homeless.Read More >>>

January, 2010

Haiti: information resources for relief and TPSRequesting Waiver of Fees for TPS Applicants
(Washington, D.C.) Jan 28, 2010 – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released a fact sheet on the process of requesting a waiver of fees for applicants seeking Temporary Protected Status. Download a PDF of the fact sheet here.Read More >>>

January, 2010

Conditions in Haiti difficult, spirits of Haitians unbowed(Washington, D.C.) Jan. 25, 2010 - "We are still seeing seriously wounded people who have yet to see a doctor. We are seeing tent cities that have thousands of people living in a crowded space with no water, food, or sanitary conditions," writes Br. Jim Boynton, S.J. from Port-au-Prince.Read More >>>

January, 2010

107 people have died in immigrant detention centers(Washington, D.C.) Jan. 25, 2010 - Through a Freedom of Information Act request, the American Immigration Lawyers Association obtained a list of the 107 immigrant detainees who died in Immigration & Customs Enforcement custody from October 2003 to the present. The most frequent cause of death was "illness." Read More >>>

Haiti emergency relief efforts continue, with an eye to the future(Washington, D.C.) Jan. 23, 2010 – “We are not yet out of the emergency phase of responding to the most basic needs, that is: water, food, and medical services,” Sonia Adames told JRS/USA Friday about JRS disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Adames, director of the Jesuit Refugee Service Santo Domingo office in the Dominican Republic, added that JRS is analyzing the situation to predict future needs while concurrently responding to immediate needs.
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JRS serves 16,000 people suffering from Haitian earthquake(Washington, D.C.) Jan. 21, 2010 – Jesuit Refugee Service has provided emergency relief in the form of food, medicine, tents and debris-removal tools to about 16,000 citizens of Port-au-Prince to aid their recovery from last week’s devastating earthquake. Additionally, in coordinated efforts with partner organizations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, JRS has set up several locations throughout the countries to deliver aid to more people suffering from the effects of the earthquake in an efficient and organized manner.
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January, 2010

Voices from Haiti(Washington, D.C) Jan. 14, 2010 - Two days after the powerful earthquake brought more devastation to the island of Haiti, eyewitness accounts from aid workers, Jesuits and others in the country are being shared.Read More >>>

January, 2010

Urgent appeal for the people of Haiti(Washington, D.C.) Jan. 14, 2010 - In response to Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, Jesuit Refugee Service is mounting an emergency relief effort to provide lifesaving aid, including food and other urgently needed items, to the Haitian people. Aid will be provided in partnership with the JRS - Latin America & Caribbean regional office, and distributed through JRS programs in the Dominican Republic, Jesuit parishes and other Jesuit programs in Haiti.Read More >>>

January, 2010

Major catastrophe shakes Haiti(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Jan. 12, 2010 - A major earthquake centered 10 miles southwest of the capital city Port-au-Prince shook the country of Haiti Tuesday afternoon, causing extensive damage and unleashing more devastation on the Western Hemisphere's poorest country. It struck at 4:53 p.m., followed by several strong aftershocks.Read More >>>

January, 2010

Bishops support immigration reformWASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 8, 2010) —The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced steps to push for the enactment of immigration reform legislation in 2010. Bishop John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah, and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, bishop of Albany, New York, and chairman of the International Policy Committee of the USCCB, made the announcement earlier this week.Read More >>>

December, 2009

Kino Border Initiative inspires student projectWashington, D.C. (Dec. 21, 2009) – Kristina Stevens shares her impressions of the Kino Border Initiative in words and music in a new video. Kristina, who just graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Journalism, visited the KBI in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico each Saturday from the end of September through November. Kristina worked with classmate Christopher Kelly to create a story for BorderBeat.net, a student-run publication based in the University of Arizona School of Journalism.Read More >>>

Reforming the detention systemWashington, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2009) – Donald M. Kerwin, Jr., Vice President for Programs at the Migration Policy Institute and a Board Member of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA addressed a hearing yesterday on “Moving Toward More Effective Immigration Detention Management,” held by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism. While praising the recent decisions by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for recent reforms, Mr. Kerwin provided clear goals for ICE as the reform process goes forward.Read More >>>

December, 2009

Road map to a mine-free worldWashington, D.C. (Dec. 7, 2009) – More than 1000 activists, survivors and government delegates celebrated the close of the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World last week with the announcement that four new countries - Albania, Greece, Rwanda and Zambia - are now mine-free. The Summit closed with more than 120 governments adopting the Cartagena Action Plan, a detailed five-year plan of commitments on all areas of mine action including victim assistance, mine clearance, risk education, stockpile destruction and international cooperation.Read More >>>

December, 2009

Crisis at our Borders: The Human Reality Behind the Immigration DebateBishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, and also Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke at the Crisis at our Borders: The Human Reality Behind the Immigration Debate conference in October. Bishop Kicanas spoke during the first panel, which covered the theme of Human Rights/Human Dignity – Understanding the Need for Immigration Reform from a Border Perspective.Read More >>>

Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas(Washington, D.C.) – In letters to the U.S. State Department and to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA has joined our partners to share the views of InterAction’s Humanitarian Partnerships Working Group and Refugee Council USA’s Protection Committee on key issues ahead of next week’s High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection.Read More >>>

December, 2009

Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility & Development(Bangkok) – Allowing for migration, both within and between countries, has the potential to increase people’s freedom and improve the lives of millions around the world, according to the 2009 Human Development Report released by the UNDP.
We live in a highly mobile world, where migration is not only inevitable but also an important dimension of human development. Nearly one billion — or one out of seven — people are migrants. The Report, Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development, demonstrates that migration can enhance human development for the people who move, for the communities they move to and for those who remain at home. Read More >>>

November, 2009

Cartagena Summit on a Mine-free World(Cartagena, Colombia) November 30, 2009 – More than 1,000 activists, survivors, mine action practitioners, development experts and government representatives from around the world are here this week for the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World, including dozens of high-level government representatives and dignitaries. The Cartagena Summit, running from November 29th through December 4th, is the second five-year Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty, and is aimed at evaluating progress made and identifying actions required to fully realize the vision of a mine-free world.Read More >>>

JRS-sponsored students graduate(Kakuma, Kenya) Oct. 24, 2009 – Twelve JRS–sponsored refugee students from Burundi, Sudan, Ethiopia and Rwanda obtained their degrees at Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya today. Three students who participated in the distance education program with the University of South Africa (UNISA) obtained their Bachelor of Art in communications and sociology after nine years of studies, while nine students of the Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development (KISWCD) received their diploma certificates in community health and community development after two years of studies. Read More >>>

October, 2009

Man on Fire: The Legacy of Pedro ArrupeThe Graduate School of Social Work and the Center for Human Rights and International Justice recently welcomed to Boston College Man on Fire, an exhibit of images and words honoring the legacy of Father Pedro Arrupe, the founder of Jesuit Refugee Service.Read More >>>

Preserving Religious Freedom and Human Dignity in Immigrant DetentionDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton announced several changes designed to improve conditions and oversight for undocumented migrants who are detained in the federal detention system yesterday. The changes are based on the Immigration Detention Overview and Recommendations report simultaneously released. The report was written by Dr. Dora Schriro, most recently the Director of the Office of Detention Policy and Planning. Read More >>>

October, 2009

DHS announces new immigration detention reform initiativesDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton announced new initiatives Tuesday, Oct. 6, as part of the Department’s ongoing immigration detention reform efforts.
“These new initiatives will improve accountability and safety in our detention facilities as we continue to engage in smart and effective enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws,” said Napolitano.Read More >>>

October, 2009

Vatican Stresses 'Tragic Plight' of Refugees“Around the globe, we observe that the tragic plight of forcibly uprooted people continues to weigh on the conscience of the human family. To a great degree, the international community seems to lack the will or ability to effectively address the suffering and vulnerability of such persons.”
Speaking to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva on Sept. 29, Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, condemned the deterioration of adherence of the principle of non-refoulement by European states and appealed for international collaboration and co-responsibility in order to deal with asylum requests fairly.Read More >>>

Cuts in Southern Sudanese education budget put progress at riskDuring the last three years, the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has slashed its education budget by more than 25 percent, from $134 million to $100 million. This is particularly disappointing given the remarkable improvements in enrolment rates since the 2005 peace agreement. Budget cuts of this magnitude are likely to adversely affect the quality of education services. With literacy rates at 20 percent, and 10 percent among women, much remains to be done.Read More >>>

September, 2009

Torn from Home: My Life as a RefugeeA traveling exhibit on the world’s refugees takes school-age children and visitors of all ages on an inspiring, hands-on journey into the extraordinary lives of millions of children who were forced to flee their homes in conflict regions throughout the world.
The exhibit, “Torn from Home: My Life as a Refugee,” gives young visitors and others an opportunity to gain a firsthand look into the often challenging realities faced by refugee children and their families, and yet experience the personal triumphs of rebuilding their lives in a new land. It showcases six exhibit areas: Home, Losing Home, Registration, Refugee Camp, Medical Clinic and Going Home. Read More >>>

August, 2009

White House hosts meeting to discuss Comprehensive Immigration ReformPresident Barack Obama told attendees during a meeting at the White House on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Thursday that, "Immigration is a problem that is begging to be fixed."
Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), hosted the meeting of 130 immigration advocates, business, labor and law enforcement representatives.Read More >>>

Cluster Bomb Ban on Track to Become International Law SoonThe international treaty banning cluster bombs has passed the half-way milestone to the 30 ratifications needed for it to become binding international law. The United Nations confirmed Aug. 19, that Croatia became the fifteenth country to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions by depositing its legal instrument at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday.Read More >>>

August, 2009

'Never Again' Campaigners Call on Users to Sign Treaty Banning Cluster BombsIsrael, Georgia and Russia were urged Aug. 12 to join the global ban on cluster bombs as members of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) held events and activities throughout the world to remember the victims of cluster bomb strikes by those countries. The weapon was used last August in the conflict between Russia and Georgia and three years ago by Israel in southern Lebanon (and to a lesser extent by Hezbollah in northern Israel.) Read More >>>

August, 2009

U.S. announces change in policy for immigrant detentionU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton announced Thursday that ICE is undertaking a major overhaul of the agency's immigration detention system.
"This change marks an important step in our ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws smartly and effectively," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. "We are improving detention center management to prioritize health, safety and uniformity among our facilities while ensuring security, efficiency and fiscal responsibility."Read More >>>

August, 2009

UNHCR says urgent aid needed in KenyaThe United Nations refugee chief has appealed for a massive injection of funds to help residents in Kenya’s sprawling and overcrowded Dadaab complex, which he described as “the most difficult camp situation in the world.” Located 90 kilometers from the border with Somalia, the three camps at Dadaab were built to house 90,000 people, but today are home to more than three times that number, mostly Somalis.Read More >>>

July, 2009

Groups claim U.S. detention system systematically violates immigrant detainee' rightsDenied access to loved ones, lawyers and basic necessities, men and women within the nation’s immigration detention system find their fundamental rights routinely and systematically violated, according to a report released this week by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), the ACLU of Southern California, and the international law firm of Holland & Knight, LLP. The first nationwide comprehensive report of its kind, “A Broken System: Confidential Reports Reveal Failures in U.S. Detention Centers,” sheds new light on the conditions suffered by hundreds of thousands of people housed in detention centers around the country, and offers policymakers specific recommendations to ameliorate the situation.Read More >>>

July, 2009

Ocean Tragedy Underscores Need for Haitian TPSCongressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Vice Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a senior member of the House Rules Committee, and Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, made the following statement on the deadly capsizing of a boat off the coast of the Turks and Caicos thought to be carrying nearly 200 Haitian migrants.
“This tragedy is a sad reminder of the hopelessness and desperation facing the Haitian people,” said Hastings. “Nearly one year ago, Haiti suffered damage equivalent to 8-10 hurricane Katrinas hitting the United States in one month alone, and since that time, the current economic crisis has practically dried up the remittances on which so many Haitian families rely. With hurricane season upon us once again, it is immoral and irresponsible to continue to deny Haitians Temporary Protected Status.Read More >>>

June, 2009

Lawmakers ask President to grant Temporary Protected Status to HaitiansSen. Bill Nelson (D. - FLA) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D.-NY) each wrote letters to President Obama in recent days asking that he grant Temporary Protected Status to Haitians in the U.S. In December of 2008, the United States began forcibly deporting 30,000 Haitians back to their country, a country ravaged by consecutive natural disasters last September. The two hurricanes and two tropical storms that hit Haiti in devastating succession during harvest season last year killed nearly 1,000 people and left 800,000 of the country’s residents in need of emergency humanitarian assistance. The storms destroyed at least $180 million in crops, exacerbating an existing food shortage.Read More >>>

June, 2009

Refugees: Between Hope and FearPanama's daily newspaper Prensa recently published an article entitled “Refugees: Between Hope and Fear,” detailing the complex struggles of Colombians living as refugees in Panama. Among the challenges reported are widespread public prejudices against refugees, burdensome requirements in the acquisition of refugee status, restrictions on movement for unrecognized Colombian refugees living in border regions, and inadequate legal protections and support for those with official refugee status.Read More >>>

June, 2009

IRC Seeks Overhaul of Resettlement System for Iraqi RefugeesIn a new report, “Iraqi Refugees in the United States: In Dire Straits,” the International Rescue Committee’s Commission on Iraqi Refugees says resettlement continues to be a critical and lifesaving intervention for thousands of at-risk Iraqi refugees who are living in precarious conditions in exile and unable to return home safely. But, the federal program no longer meets the basic needs of today’s newly arriving refugees and requires urgent reform.Read More >>>

June, 2009

Ecuador Streamlines Refugee Registration ProcessThe Enhanced Registration Initiative was created by the government of Ecuador in coordination with UNHCR in response to a) the large number of refugees living in the shadows along the northern border as a result of the absence of state entities or response teams in the area; and b) the inefficacy of the current system for determining refugee status.
The purpose of this initiative is a) the implementation along the northern border of a more efficient system of interviewing refugees and adjudicating refugee applications; b) the extension of access to registration previously unreached by the General Directorate of Refugees (DGR); and c) a heightened focus on those situational challenges arising from the ongoing internal conflict in Colombia. Read More >>>

June, 2009

Welcome the StrangerOn June 20 – World Refugee Day – Americans join with others around the world in remembering the needs of displaced people, noting their challenges, recognizing their struggles and triumphs, and celebrating the contribution that refugees continue to make to their adoptive homelands.Read More >>>

June, 2009

Urgent Appeal: Displaced Sri Lankans require food, shelter, medical assistanceSince the end of fighting in Sri Lanka on May 19, more than 260,000 displaced persons remain in camps in the northern part of this island country. Tens of thousands are in need of medical attention, due to the effects of starvation, exposure, illness and injury sustained during the fighting. JRS in Sri Lanka reports an urgent need for temporary shelter, food, clean water and basic medical supplies in Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna and other locations. Since January 2009, JRS has been providing and distributing cooked food, dry rations, and non-food items including clothing; and attending to the sick, pregnant women and new mothers, and the elderly. JRS is also assisting with education and school supplies.Read More >>>

June, 2009

DETENTION OF REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS & MIGRANTSOn this, the 10th anniversary of the UNHCR Revised Guidelines on Applicable Criteria and Standards Relating to the Detention of Asylum Seekers, the Guidelines remain a valuable tool and the primary international mechanism available for States to determine appropriate minimum standards for the detention of asylum seekers. Read More >>>

May, 2009

Discovering Self-Esteem As A Tool For Personal DevelopmentAt the end of April, the JRS Refugee Community Center (RCC) organized a three-day workshop on self-esteem for 22 language and computer students and four teachers. The workshop aimed at renewing hope and showing new directions for the lives of refugees by drawing attention to the principles of self-esteem like sense of competence, the importance of taking control of one’s life, tolerance, self-acceptance, positive thinking and self-motivation.Read More >>>

Town Struggles One Year After Immigration RaidTo commemorate the first anniversary of the Postville, Iowa, immigration worksite enforcement action, Bishop John C. Wester, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration released a statement recalling the humanitarian cost of such actions and calling, once again, for the reform of our nation immigration policies.Read More >>>

May, 2009

Seeking Dignity for HaitiansHaitians currently living in the Dominican Republic – Haiti’s neighbor on the island of Hispaniola – find themselves under increasing pressure as a debate heats up in the Dominican Republic government and among the general population over the rights of immigrants.Read More >>>

May, 2009

Human Rights Council Urged to Act on Sri LankaNinety non-governmental organizations across the globe call upon the UN Human Rights Council to hold a Special Session on the current human rights catastrophe in Sri Lanka, as a matter of urgent concern. They have observed the lack of an adequate response from the Council so far, and herewith repeat their heartfelt appeal to the Council to live up to its own mandate by responding promptly to human rights emergencies.Read More >>>

Don't Keep the Nuns WaitingSister of Mercy Pat Murphy just celebrated her 80th Birthday but she is not slowing down. For more than two years she and Sister Jo Ann Persch, RSM, 74, have prayed the rosary every Friday morning at 7:15 a.m. in front of the Broadview Federal Immigrant Detention Center. They pray outside because ICE will not let them pray inside with the detainees. More than 11,000 immigrants have been deported from this facility in the past year.Read More >>>

Refugee Crisis Simmers in EcuadorThe Center for International Policy says that over the past nine years, an estimated 300,000 Colombian refugees have crossed their country’s border with Ecuador, fleeing persecution, threats, disappearances, murders and deliberate displacement by the parties to Colombia’s long conflict.Read More >>>

April, 2009

Neighbor to NeighborBetween April 6-17 faith communities throughout the United States will be conducting Neighbor to Neighbor visits with their members of Congress while they are at home in their districts on Congressional Recess.Read More >>>

Sudanese Refugees Return to HomelandThe Acholi people are indigenous to Lobone. But, because of the civil war between the Sudan government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, thousands of people fled their homes, with many going to refugee camps in Uganda.Read More >>>

March, 2009

Haitians need Temporary Protected StatusJesuit Refugee Service provides humanitarian assistance to Haitian refugees and migrants dwelling along the Haitian border with the Dominican Republic. Our field office in Ouanaminthe, Haiti has seen the effects of both the food crisis and the storms in the last year . Haitian society is fragile and the U.S. plan to deport 30,000 Haitians to the storm ravaged nation represents a grave security and humanitarian concern.Read More >>>

March, 2009

Urge the Senate to Give Cluster Bombs the Boot!When nearly 100 nations — including Britain, France, and Germany — gathered in early December to sign a global treaty banning cluster bombs, the U.S. was conspicuously absent. These weapons always end up killing more civilians than soldiers.
President Obama and Congress can fix U.S. policy. In fact, they have already started. In March, Congress passed a law permanently banning exports of nearly all U.S.-made cluster bombs. Now we need Congress to act to prevent any further use by the United States.Read More >>>

March, 2009

Canisius College students ‘Spring Break’ for immigration reformSeveral students from Canisius College visited Washington, D.C. as an "Alternative Spring Break.” The eight students, accompanied by a campus minister, spent March 13 to March 15 at the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s Spring Teach-In on Immigration at Georgetown Prep, and then lobbied for comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. Capitol on March 16. Read More >>>

Mission Possible: A Mine-Free WorldSunday, March 1, 2009, is the 10th anniversary of the historic treaty banning antipersonnel mines becoming binding international law. The Mine Ban Treaty obligates its participants to comprehensively discontinue the use, production, stockpile, and transfer of antipersonnel landmines; to destroy stockpiles within four years; to clear mines within their own territories within ten years, and to provide continuing assistance to mine survivors.Read More >>>

February, 2009

JRS/USA Thanks Congressman for Haiti SupportOn behalf of a diverse coalition of 25 human rights, refugee advocacy, faith-based and humanitarian organizations, Robert J. Carey, Chair of Refugee Council USA, writes to thank Rep. Hastings and express their support for his legislation addressing the need to designate the country of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Read More >>>

100,000-plus Citizen Children Find Parents DeportedCongressman José E. Serrano released a study today showing that the Department of Homeland Security has deported more than 100,000 parents of children who are U.S. citizens. The report, which Serrano asked DHS to produce, also showed that this number could be higher if records were more complete.Read More >>>

The struggle to be Human AgainA better life is not something I just want. It is something I struggle for. I wish I had an easy answer to my life’s struggles but I don’t. I am also very skeptical of any one who claims to. This often stretches me to the limit. Living in this state of uncertainty may continue probably for some time yet I have to learn to love these struggles and live my life again. The important thing is that I still have a responsibility, a choice and the initiative to decide how I want to live the rest of my life.Read More >>>

February, 2009

Foreign Aid Reform: Principles for United States Humanitarian Assistance Endorsed by 27 U.S.-based NGOsHumanitarian response is a vital part of the United States foreign assistance program. Despite its importance, draft proposals and discussions of foreign aid reform to date have focused almost exclusively on modernizing U.S. development assistance. The purpose of this brief statement is to propose the core principles that should guide U.S. humanitarian assistance in the interests of ensuring that any foreign aid reform initiative encompasses both humanitarian and development aspects of U.S. international assistance. Read More >>>

February, 2009

Report: ICE Fugitive Operations Program Billed as Having Explicit National Security Focus Is Missing its Enforcement MarkWASHINGTON — The federal fugitive operations program established in 2003 to locate, apprehend and remove fugitive aliens who pose a threat to the community has instead focused chiefly on arresting unauthorized immigrants without criminal convictions, according to a Migration Policy Institute report issued today. The report, Collateral Damage: An Examination of ICE’s Fugitive Operations Program, found that 73 percent of the nearly 97,000 people arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive operations teams between the program’s inception in 2003 and early 2008 were unauthorized immigrants without criminal records. Despite the National Fugitive Operations Program’s mandate to apprehend dangerous fugitives, arrests of fugitive aliens with criminal convictions have represented a steadily declining share of total arrests by the teams, accounting for just 9 percent of total arrests in 2007, down from 32 percent in 2003, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s own estimates.Read More >>>

February, 2009

Becoming a Child SoldierIn 1983, when the second civil war started in his country of Sudan, Joseph was only 11 years old. That year the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was established; they began broadcasting on the radio, a very powerful war propaganda tool. Read More >>>

U.N. urged to strengthen action to end use of child soldiers and JRS supports call to take further steps to safeguard childrenOn February 12, former child soldiers and other youth representing a grassroots campaign from around the world will present thousands of symbolic "red hands" to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to demand stronger action by international leaders to end the use of child soldiers.
A UN treaty prohibiting the forced recruitment or use of children under the age of 18 in armed conflict, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, has been ratified by 126 countries and entered into force on February 12, 2002, a date commemorated annually as "Red Hand Day."Read More >>>